[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.

                          ____________________