[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 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 17, 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 a sworn affidavit made out by one Hector Rodriguez:

                               affidavit

     State of New York, County of Richmond, ss:
       Hector Rodriguez, being duly sworn, deposes and states:
       1. I have been voluntarily working as an undercover agent 
     for Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari in order 
     to prove the existence of a drug cartel conspiracy against 
     former Immigration & Naturalization Service Officer Joseph 
     Occhipinti, which resulted in his conviction for civil rights 
     violations. This affidavit is the third affidavit I have 
     executed which outlines the important results of my 
     undercover investigation.
       2. On or about April 15, 1992, I agreed to make buys of 
     gambling Bolitas from various bodegas owned by the various 
     government complainants who testified against Mr. Occhipinti. 
     The purpose of the buys was to demonstrate to New York Post 
     Reporter Miguel Garcilazo that these very same complainants 
     who portrayed themselves as law abiding, were still involved 
     in criminal activity. I was given the buy money from the New 
     York Post and my conversations with the bodega employees were 
     consensually monitored. The investigation resulted in buys of 
     gambling bolitas being made from the following Bodegas. The 
     bolitas were turned over to New York Post reporter Garcilazo.
       (A) Crucey Grocery, 3882 Broadway, New York, New York
       (B) Liranzo Grocery, 383 Audobon Avenue, New York, New York
       (C) Johnny & Ray Grocery, 4167 Broadway, New York, New York
       (D) Yeya Grocery, 1608 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, New 
     York
       (E) Medina Grocery, 1502 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, New 
     York
       (F) J & M Grocery, 275 Wadsworth Avenue, New York, New York

                             Crucey Grocery

       3. On April 25, 1992, I went to the Crucey Grocery Store to 
     meet with Agustin Crucey and his associates to discuss the 
     purchase of cocaine. I met ``Freddy,'' who I previously 
     identified as a drug associate to Agustin Crucey. Freddy told 
     me that Agustin and Guondoles were out on an errand.
       4. On or about May 9, 1992, I again met government 
     complainant Agustin Crucey at the Crucey Grocery to further 
     discuss the purchase of cocaine. I had portrayed myself as 
     a local drug dealer interest in a new drug source. Agustin 
     reconfirmed his interest in selling me cocaine. In fact, 
     despite the shortage of cocaine in the streets, Agustin 
     offered to sell me a kilogram of cocaine for $27,000. 
     Agustin agreed to introduce me to his drug source. I have 
     formally advised the FBI of Agustin Crucey's drug 
     trafficking activity and my interest in working for them 
     as a confidential information in order to help prove Mr. 
     Occhipinti's innocence. However, the FBI has not yet 
     contacted me. I also engaged Agustin Crucey into 
     conversation about Mr. Occhipinti's case, however, Agustin 
     Crucey told me that his ``attorney'' told him not to 
     discuss the case. The conversation with Agustin Crucey was 
     consensually monitored.
       5. On June 6, 1992, I went to the Studio 84 Night Club with 
     Agustin Crucey and Guandoles. I explained to them the fact I 
     had set up drug operations in New Jersey and was interested 
     in them (Agustin and Guandoles) as being the new source of my 
     cocaine. As before, they agreed to sell me a kilogram of 
     cocaine for $27,000 and they would actually deliver the 
     cocaine to New Jersey. I was given a sample package of 
     cocaine from Guondoles after Agustin told him to do so. They 
     also admitted to me that they store their drugs in an 
     apartment on West 160th Street in Manhattan. The sample 
     cocaine was turned over to investigators from Staten Island 
     Borough President Guy V. Molinari's office. The conversation 
     was not tape recorded because everyone who enters the Studio 
     84 Night Club is searched.

                              Yeya Grocery

       6. On or before April 28, 1992, I had a conversation with 
     the brother of complainant Jose Elias Taveras. The 
     conversation took place at Concourse Auto Repair located at 
     245 East 138th Street, Bronx, New York, which is owned by 
     Jose Elias Taveras. The brother, who did not tell me his 
     first name, admitted to me and others that his brother (Jose 
     Elias Taveras) had intentionally perjured himself against Mr. 
     Occhipinti in order to set him up.
       Sworn to before me 10th day of June, 1992. Lorraine A. 
     Witzak, Commissioner of Deeds, City of New York No. 5-599.
     Hector Rodriguez.

                          ____________________