[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: February 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
KEY DOCUMENTS PROVE INNO- CENCE OF JOSEPH OCCHIPINTI
______
HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, February 8, 1994
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, as part of my continuing efforts to bring
to light all the facts in the case of former Immigration and
Naturalization Service agent Joseph Occhipinti, I submit into the
Record additional key evidence in this case.
Affidavit--State of New York, County of Richmond
Hector Rodriguez, being duly sworn deposes and says:
1. My true and correct name is Hector Rodriquez and I am a
resident of the State of New Jersey.
2. On January 24, 1992, I executed a seven page affidavit
outlining undercover work I performed on behalf of former
Immigration Officer Joseph Occhipinti. On October 18, 1991,
Officer Occhipinti was unjustly convicted for civil rights
violations based upon perjurious testimony by several
Dominican merchants, who were portrayed as law abiding. My
investigation clearly showed that the majority of the
complainants are criminals, continually involved in various
crimes, such as drugs, loan sharking, gambling activity,
among others.
3. I have conducted additional undercover work since my
last affidavit which is described below.
superstar restaurant
A. On January 25, 1992, I did undercover work at the
``Superstar Restaurant'' located at 1049 St. Nicholas Avenue,
New York, New York. I wanted to know if drug trafficking
activity was taking place at the restaurant because at
Officer Occhipinti's trial, employees from Superstar
testified that the restaurant was not a know drug location.
My investigation has clearly proven that testimony to be
false since the Superstar Restaurant is frequented and used
by many drug bosses from the San Francisco De Macoris Drug
Cartel. Additionally, it's employees participate in many of
it's drug activities in public view. The basis of this belief
are as follows:
B. On January 25, 1992 one of my relatives and I went to
the Superstar Restaurant and overheard a conversation between
a known drug boss from San Francisco DeMacoris called
``Rafi''. Participating in the drug conversation was the day
manager of Superstar called Pasqual. I also heard him being
called ``Jose.'' The conversation was drug related and was
tape recorded by myself.
C. On January 25, 1992, my relative and I returned to the
Superstar Restaurant. We met a known drug boss from San
Francisco De Macoris. I will not identify this drug boss at
this time for security reasons. I told the drug boss and Jose
we were interested in buying a kilo of cocaine and had a
price quote of $22.00 per gram. The drug boss said he could
sell a kilogram of cocaine for $21,500 per kilo. Present
during the conversation was ``Jose'', the night manager from
the Superstar Restaurant. I told the drug boss I would talk
to my people about the deal. He gave me his beeper number and
told me to call him on January 26, 1992. In the restaurant
there were other drug deals taking place. In fact, I saw a
couple of it's customers snorting the cocaine right in the
restaurant. This conversation was tape recorded. (Exhibit
``A'')
D. On January 28, 1992, about 8:00 P.M., I returned to
Superstar Restaurant and met with Jose the manager and the
drug boss. I was given the sample package of cocaine from the
drug boss, who confirmed that he had ready for sale one
kilogram of cocaine for $21,500. I immediately turned over
the cocaine sample to Inside Edition, who turned the cocaine
over to the police as evidence. The conversation was
monitored and videoed by Inside Edition.
E. It is apparent to me that Superstar Restaurant is a
known drug location, where drug deals are made on a daily
basis. Also, it's employees are active participants in it's
drug dealing activities. Therefore, if these four witnesses
testified to the contrary, they perjured themselves.
crucey grocery
A. On January 28, 1992, I went to the Crucey Grocery and
was introduced to Altagracia Crucey. Inside the Bodega were
Freddy and Guandole, who is discussed in my first affidavit.
We began to talk about the planned drug sale in the presence
of Altagracia Crucey. I explained that I had gotten a cheaper
price for cocaine from another source, however, I wanted to
compare their quality. Guandole told me they were going to
open up a new kilo package of cocaine and would give me a
sample. I agreed. Guandole also wrote down his beeper
telephone number, which was held as evidence. The
conversation was monitored and videoed by Inside Edition.
(Exhibit ``B'').
universe travel agency
A. On February 10, 1992, I went to the Universe Travel
Agency at 102-04 Roosevelt Avenue, Corona, New York and spoke
to the owner, Pedro Castillo-Reyes regarding the illegal
transfer of drug money to the Dominican Republic. Mr.
Castillo-Reyes is believed to be one of the Federation
members who set up Officer Occhipinti. I explained to Mr.
Castillo that I was a drug dealer from upper Manhattan and
was interested in illegal transferring every 9 days, $20,000
in drug money to Santo Domingo. At first, he wanted to know
who recommended him and also wanted to see my identification.
Once I showed him my identification he explained to me he had
to be very cautious because ``Federal Agents'' were
investigating him and things were hot. Mr. Castillo-Reyes
said ``OK'' and promised me that after his first delivery of
my drug money, he would introduce me to some of his sources,
which he inferred were drug related. Mr. Castillo-Reyes said
he would charge me $200.00 to transfer the money. (Exhibit
``C'')
liberato supermarket
A. On February 7, 1992, I began my investigation of Jose
Liberato who owns two large supermarkets in upper Manhattan.
Mr. Liberato is a well known merchant in the Dominican
community because he does daily advertising on Spanish T.V.
and newspapers. Mr. Liberato was one of the leading witnesses
against Officer Occhipinti and is related to Rhadames
Liberato and Enrique Checo, who I previously investigated. In
order to get background information on Mr. Liberato, I spoke
to a major supplier of untaxed Dominican rum, who admitted
previously supplying Mr. Liberato with untaxed rum. The
source agreed to introduce me to Mr. Liberato. My source
confirmed that Jose Liberato owns about eight Bodegas in the
community, many of which are registered in the names of other
people. The source confirmed the allegations that Mr.
Liberato is a major drug boss and loan shark. My source
confirms Jose Liberato sells cocaine in large quantities
(multi kilo weight). My investigation is still ongoing.
sea crest trading company
A. On February 8, 1992, I went to the Associated
Supermarket at 2262 Jerome Avenue, Bronx in order to meet
with Ricardo Knipping, the owner. Mr. Knipping was the first
Bodega owner to make a complaint against Officer Occhipinti
as well as testify against him in the Grand Jury. The purpose
of my investigation was to verify Mr. Knipping's involvement
in loan sharking through a company called ``Sea-Crest Trading
Company.'' When I met Ricardo, I made up a story that I was a
successful drug dealer, who had saved up $100,000 in cash and
was interested in buying a supermarket in New Jersey. I asked
Ricardo if he knew anyone who could lend me the balance of
$150,000, in order to buy the Bodega. I explained to Ricardo
that I couldn't go to a bank since I could not legally prove
how I got the $100,000 deposit. In response, Ricardo
explained that he is a member of a ``federation'' who helps
Bodega owners borrow money without there being a legal
registration of the money. Ricardo told me the interest rate
would be 24\1/2\ annually. Ricardo told me that in the event
Sea Crest Trading did not approve of the Bodega I wanted to
buy they could set me up in one of their own supermarkets.
During the conversation I also mentioned to Ricardo that I
had about $20,000 in stolen food stamps which I intended to
launder through the Bodega I wanted to buy. He sounded very
interested in it and began asking me a lot of questions. He
cautioned me to be very careful since I could lose my license
if caught. We concluded our conversation by Ricardo giving
me, in his own handwriting, the name of ``Pedro Dominguez'',
telephone 994-6110, who is with Sea Crest Trading Company.
Ricardo told me to call next week to make up an appointment,
where we all would get together to discuss the loan. The
conversation was tape recorded. (Exhibit ``D'')
B. On February 10, 1992, I went to the Sea Crest Trading
Company at 4748 Bronx Boulevard, Bronx, New York and met with
Pedro Dominguez. Apparently, Mr. Knipping had already spoke
with Pedro because he knew about my case and my interest in
borrowing money. I again explained to Pedro the fact I was a
drug dealer with $100,000 in drug money interested in
investing in a Bodega in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. I told him
things were hot in the street, for example, last week I had
lost $30,000 on a kilo of cocaine, which I had to throw away
in order to avoid being arrested. During our conversation,
Pedro removed his coat and took out two guns which he
placed in a desk draw. He called in his partner, an
American man, who spoke english with an italian accent.
Mr. Dominguez, acted as a translator explained to the
owner my situation. The owner told me that he didn't want
to lend me the money for a Bodega in Perth Amboy, New
Jersey because he had no accounts there. However, he told
me there were several Bodegas he could get for me in
Newark for the same price. We agreed that we would meet
tomorrow at which time he would show me the Bodegas in
Newark. Mr. Dominguez gave me his business card which read
``Pan American Enterprises.'' Inside Sea Crest were about
10 employees. I was told that there was a Bodega owner,
called Rafael Taveras from upper Manhattan in the lobby
who was making his loan payment. There was technical
difficulty in tape recording, however, a portion of the
conversation was mentioned. (Exhibit ``E'')
C. On February 11, 1992, I called Pedro Dominguez and
canceled the appointment telling him that I had to return to
the Dominican Republic because a relative was sick.
uptown travel service/remesas quisqueyana
A. On February 7, 1992, I went to the Uptown Travel Agency
at 3750 Broadway, New York, New York and met with Reymundo
Tejeda, the owner. I explained to Reymundo the fact I was a
drug dealer interested in sending 20,000 in drug money to the
Dominican Republic. He referred me to go to Remesa
Quisqueyana and wrote down on a piece of paper the name and
address. Reymundo said he could handle that quantity out of
his travel agency. Uptown Travel is an agent for Remesas
Quisqueyana. The conversation was tape recorded. (Exhibit
``F'')
B. On February 7, 1992, I went to the Remesas Quisqueyana
at 3499 Broadway, New York, New York and spoke to one of it's
bosses, ``Corporan''. I showed him the note Reymundo had
given me and told him about my interest in wiring the drug
money. Corporan told me he would wire the drug money down in
four separate transactions in order to avoid notifying the
government. Corporan told me that the charge was $70.00 and
that he was able to illegally transfer up to one million
dollars recorded. (Exhibit ``G'')
4. I am willing to assist law enforcement authorities in
any further investigation of these violators.
Hector Rodriguez.
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