[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 26 (Thursday, March 10, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           KEY DOCUMENTS PROVE INNOCENCE OF JOSEPH OCCHIPINTI

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 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 two sworn affidavits made out by Ramon Antonio Grullon, a former 
official of the Government of the Dominican Republic:

                               Affidavit

                [State of New York, County of Richmond]

       Ramon Antonio Grullon, being duly sworn, deposes and 
     states:
       (1) I am the former Consul of the Dominican Republic to 
     Philadelphia, the former Consul General and Ambassador to 
     Kingston, Jamaica, as well as other diplomatic positions I 
     held for the Government of the Dominican Republic.
       (2) On or about the end of 1989, I was personally told by 
     Dominican businessmen, Jose Delio Marte, Silvio Sanchez, 
     Pedro Allegria and Ernesto Farbege that they needed my 
     political assistance in ``eliminating'' former Immigration 
     Officer Joseph Occhipinti. They explained to me that 
     Occhipinti was a threat to their illegal businesses, which 
     included loan sharking, gambling, drug distribution and the 
     employment of illegal aliens. Pedro Allegria, Richard 
     Knipping, Jose Delio Marte and a man call ``Pepe'', the 
     brother-in-law to Delio Marte operate a major loan sharking 
     operation out of Sea Crest Trading Company where they set up 
     Bodegas to conduct their illegal businesses. They also use 
     Joel Associates, Hamilton Drug Stores, and Hamilton Hardware 
     located at West 136th and Hamilton Place from which illegal 
     wire transfers from drug proceeds are made to the Dominican 
     Republic.
       I was told that Occhipinti would be eliminated on false 
     allegations that he was shaking down the Bodega owners. They 
     invited me to attend a press conference at the Club Deportivo 
     (168th Street & Audubon Avenue) where they wanted to solicit 
     the help of the Spanish media to publicize the false 
     allegations. They told me I was needed because of my 
     political position which would give credibility to their 
     allegations. I refused because I didn't want any trouble.
       (3) On or about April, 1990, Jose Delio Marte and Silvio 
     Sanchez again approached me to accompany them as a protestor 
     at City Hall against Occhipinti to make the same false 
     allegations. I again refused.
       (4) I am willing to cooperate with Staten Island Borough 
     President Guy V. Molinari, as well as the United States 
     Congress, in their investigation of the Occhipinti case and 
     Dominican drug trafficking activity in the United States. I 
     am cooperating in hopes that my cooperation will be brought 
     to the attention of the Immigration and Naturalization 
     Service where I am under deportion proceedings. No promises 
     have been made to me in exchange for this cooperation. I am 
     willing to work in an undercover capacity if requested, to 
     prove what I have stated in this affidavit is true.
                                  ____


                               Affidavit

                [State of New Jersey, County of Hudson]

       Ramon Antoni Grullon, being duly sworn, deposes and states:
       1. On August 19, 1993, I executed a sworn affidavit to 
     Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari, whereby I 
     provided direct knowledge confirming the conspiracy against 
     Mr. Occhipinti by certain members of the Federation and Sea 
     Crest Trading Company. I outlined the motive for the 
     conspiracy, as well as the identity of its co-conspirators, 
     which led to his federal conviction for civil rights and 
     related violations.
       2. On August 20, 1993, I was interviewed by Mr. Anthony 
     Pope, the attorney representing Mr. Occhipinti, regarding my 
     first affidavit. At that interview, I provided additional 
     testimony relative to the Occhipinti conspiracy, which are as 
     follows:
       A. I have confirmed why government witness Jose Liberato, a 
     complainant against Mr. Occhipinti at trial, had falsely 
     testified against Mr. Occhipinti and participated in the 
     conspiracy. Mr. Liberato, a bodega owner, is a major 
     participant of Sea Crest Trading Company and its illegal 
     activities. As I previously stated, Sea Crest is a front for 
     loan sharking, drug distribution, money laundering and 
     gambling activity involving Dominican bodegas. Jose Liberato, 
     as did the others at Sea Crest, lost thousands of dollars 
     from Mr. Occhipinti's confiscation of contraband and monies 
     from bodegas indebted to Sea Crest. In addition, Mr. Liberato 
     and many of his relatives' bodegas, were investigated by Mr. 
     Occhipinti.
       B. On or about May 1993, I was present at a meeting with 
     City Council's Guillermo Linares and Georgina ``Donny'' 
     Sanchez where Mr. Occhipinti's case was discussed. Ms. 
     Sanchez is a member of the Dinkins Administration, who acts 
     as an intermediary in delivering illegal cash contributions 
     to the Dinkins Campaign on behalf of the Federation and Sea 
     Crest. This allegation is based upon personal knowledge since 
     I was personally privy to one such illegal contribution 
     involving about seven thousand dollars. It also explains why 
     Mayor Dinkins supports the Federation and supported their 
     efforts in having Mr. Occhipinti prosecuted. At the meeting, 
     Georgian expressed her concern about Mr. Occhipinti's public 
     and legal efforts for vindication, which could expose the 
     conspiracy, as well as the Federation's and Sea Crest illegal 
     operations. In response, Councilman Linares stated that he 
     was not concerned because he had strong contacts at the 
     prosecutor's office. Those contacts had assured him that they 
     had everything under control. I interpreted that statement to 
     mean that there may be some corrupt prosecutors involved in 
     covering up the Occhipinti conspiracy.
       3. As previously promised, I have agreed to work in an 
     undercover capacity to help prove the conspiracy against Mr. 
     Occhipinti. In addition, to have my conversation with the 
     various co-conspirators consensually monitored to prove their 
     complicity in the conspiracy.

                          ____________________