[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 93 (Thursday, July 11, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1236-E1237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MOB OWNS FBI IN YOUNGSTOWN

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2002

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, the following reflects the truthful and 
reliable investigation by Congressman James Traficant into the 
association between the FBI and organized crime (mafia) in Youngstown, 
Ohio and surrounding areas.
  In addition, FBI agent, Anthony Speranza did rape one of my 
constituents. The matter was adjudicated in the Northern District of 
Ohio Court of Judge O'Malley, where Speranza admitted to ``digital 
penetration'' of a woman who had suffered problems of mental 
instability, which under Ohio law is felony one rape.
  The following facts and sources speak for themselves, making FBI-mob 
connections in Boston, Massachusetts look like a Rotary meeting.

                        Traficant Investigation


                       Joseph Naples--James Prato

       1. Fact: Joseph Naples issued a contract to kill one Paul 
     Calautti; Source: FBI Affidavit; Result: Paul Calautti 
     murdered October 11, 1968; Finding: Joseph Naples never 
     brought to trial.
       2. Fact: Joseph Naples issued a contract to kill one Joseph 
     DeRose; Source: FBI Affidavit; Result: Joseph DeRose suffered 
     two bullet wounds May 13/14 1980. Joseph DeRose missing-
     murdered or in protective custody; Finding: Joseph Naples 
     never brought to trial.
       3. Fact: Joseph Naples issued a contract to kill one Robert 
     Furey; Source: FBI Affidavit; Result: Robert Furey murdered 
     April 12, 1979; Finding: Joseph Naples never brought to 
     trial.
       4. Fact: Joseph Naples and James Prato issued a contract to 
     kill Charles Carrabbi; Source: La Cosa Nostra underboss 
     Angelo Lonardo's testimony under oath during a U.S. Senate 
     hearing on organized crime (1988); Result: Charles Carrabbia 
     missing-presumed murdered; Finding: Joseph Naples and James 
     Prato never brought to trial.
       5. Fact: Joseph Naples ordered the burning of a car 
     belonging to a Youngstown City Councilman one Robert Spencer; 
     Source: FBI Affidavit and Robert Spencer's Affidavit 
     presented during a U.S. Senate hearing on organized crime 
     (1984); Result: Robert Spencer's car fire bombed and totally 
     destroyed. (1978/1979); Finding: Joseph Naples never brought 
     to trial.
       6. Fact: Joseph Naples ordered the burning of the Desert 
     Inn; Source: FBI Affidavit; Result: Desert Inn bar burned; 
     Finding: Joseph Naples never brought to trial.
       7. Fact: Joseph Naples ordered numerous other arsons and 
     bombings; source: FBI Affidavit; Result: Numerous other 
     arsons and bombings occurred; Finding: Joseph Naples never 
     brought to trial.
       8. Fact: Joseph Naples and James Prato had influence with 
     Sheriff Yarash and associates around Sheriff Tablack; Source: 
     FBI Affidavits. Affidavit and Testimony submitted during U.S. 
     Senate hearing on organized crime (1984); Result: Organized 
     crime activities continued; Finding: Joseph Naples and James 
     Prato never brought to trial.
       9. Fact: James Prato gave an attempted campaign 
     contribution to Sheriff candidate James Traficant; Source: 
     FBI Affidavit--James Traficant Trial. Testimony submitted 
     during U.S. Senate hearing on Organized Crime (1984); Result: 
     James Traficant acquitted; Finding: James Prato never brought 
     to trial.
       10. Fact: James Prato gave an $80,000 campaign contribution 
     to Sheriff candidate Terrence Sheidel; Source: Michael 
     Terlecky Affidavit. Affidavit of Congressional Lead Staff 
     Investigator Frederick V. Hudach; Result: Terrence Sheidel 
     advertised aggressively during his campaign for Sheriff; 
     Finding: James Prato never brought to trial due to no grand 
     jury being assembled.
       11 Fact: Informant who wished to stay anonymous for now 
     revealed the following: (1) On or about 1979 and 1980 Terry 
     Sheidel, a faculty member at Youngstown State University who 
     taught Criminal Justice courses, was running for Mahoning 
     County, Ohio Sheriff at the same time James A. Traficant was 
     seeking the same position; (2) Informant advised Terry 
     Sheidel that he did not have enough money to forge an 
     effective campaign against James A. Traficant and that he 
     (informant) could ask Lenny Strollo for campaign money for 
     him (Sheidel). Terry Sheidel agreed to informant's 
     recommendation to ask Lenny Strollo for campaign money; (3) 
     Informant met with Lenny Strollo and he (Strollo) gave him 
     (informant) $80,000 in cash for Terry Sheidel's campaign for 
     Mahoning County Sheriff. Strollo also told informant that if 
     Terry Sheidel needed more money he would give him another 
     $80,000; (4) Informant felt that James A. Traficant had to 
     take the money from whoever gave him the money to keep it off 
     the streets or it would have certainly been used against him 
     to keep him from becoming the Mahoning County, Ohio Sheriff; 
     (5) As far as informant knows, Terry Sheidel never received 
     the second $80,000 from Lenny Strollo. James A. Traficant won 
     the election.
       Source: Michael Terlecky Affidavit. Affidavit of 
     Congressional Lead Staff Investigator, Frederick V. Hudach; 
     Result: Terry Sheidel never investigated by FBI; James 
     Traficant investigated by FBI; Finding: Incident never 
     thoroughly investigated by FBI Agents before bringing James 
     Trafficant to trial.


                     Stanley Peterson as FBI Agent

       1. Fact: Isabella Callard witnessed her husband Joe Ezzo 
     giving money to FBI Agent Stanley Peterson so that he would 
     permit gambling and other illegal activity to continue; 
     Source: Isabella Callard Affidavit; Result: Illegal activity 
     continued; Finding: Stanley Peterson retired from the FBI and 
     subsequently became the Chief of Police of Youngstown, Ohio.


           Stanley Peterson/Friend of the Mob/Chief of Police

       1. Fact: The FBI was informed that a candidate for Mayor of 
     Younstown, Emanuel Catsoules stated that in 1978 a friend of 
     organized crime wanted Stanley Peterson to be his Chief of 
     Police.
       2. Fact: The FBI was informed that a candidate for Mayor of 
     Youngstown, Thomas A. Shipka, was contacted by a friend of 
     the mob who would support his campaign based on

[[Page E1237]]

     certain conditions, one of which that he would appoint 
     Stanley Peterson as his Chief of Police.
       3. Fact: Thomas A. Shipka turned over his information to 
     the FBI and actually brought 13-14 police officers who had 
     first-hand knowledge of gambling joints, prostitution, and 
     other activities that they alleged Mr. Peterson was 
     protecting.
       4. Fact: Allegation of Mr. Peterson being involved in an 
     illegal wiretap of a rival mob group was given to the strike 
     force.
       5. Fact: The FBI was informed that in 1969, Jack Hunter, a 
     candidate for Mayor of Youngstown, was contacted by an 
     intermediator representing organized crime figures who were 
     well known. They wanted veto powers over Chief of Police in 
     exchange for campaign funds. A high ranking official in the 
     Sheriff's Department was to act as the bagman.
       6. Fact: The FBI was informed that in 1971 an intermediary 
     for organized crime contacted Mayor of Youngstown, Jack 
     Hunter, expressing a desire for him to name Stanley Peterson 
     as Chief of Police.
       7. Fact: On two separate occasions during the period that 
     Stanely Peterson was Chief of Police of Youngstown, concerned 
     citizens took substantial evidence to the local FBI office 
     implicating Peterson in promoting or protecting organized 
     criminal activity in the City of Youngstown. The Youngstown 
     Police Department took evidence to the FBI identifying over 
     30 specific sites where organized criminal activity was being 
     permitted to operate within the city.
       8. Fact: Evidence was presented to the FBI that Chief of 
     Police, Stanley Peterson was disciplining certain members of 
     the Youngstown Police Department to discourage them from 
     taking action against operations being conducted by LCN 
     figures within the city.
       Source: Affidavits and testimony submitted during U.S. 
     Senate hearings on Organized Crime (1984); Result: The FBI 
     said they were aware of the information about Stanley 
     Peterson and that they investigated same, however, the nature 
     of the information lacked specificity; Finding: The evidence 
     against Stanley Peterson was never brought before a Grand 
     Jury.
       1. Fact: Joseph Naples and James Prato who were aligned 
     with the Sebastian John LaRocca Mafia Family located in 
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ran the organized crime faction in 
     the Mahoning County, Ohio area which included: conspiracy to 
     commit murder, murder for hire, aggravated murder, arson, 
     bombings, burglary-criminal trespass, extortion, illegal 
     gambling, numerous illegal campaign contributions, promoted 
     the hiring of certain police officers, ``signed off'' on key 
     elected officials, sheriffs, prosecutors and mayors.
       Source: FBI Affidavits. Testimony, written statements and 
     affidavits submitted to the U.S. Senate hearings on Organized 
     Crime (1984 and 1988).
       2. Fact: An informant who wished to stay anonymous for now, 
     revealed the following: (1) Informant was a Youngstown, Ohio 
     police officer during 1977 and 1978; (2) Informant during 
     1977 and 1978 worked for six months on Phillip Richley's 
     campaign for Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio. Informant felt that 
     his campaign work for Philip Richley would bring him a 
     patrolman to white shirt and tie promotion with the 
     Youngstown, Ohio Police Department. After Phillip Richley won 
     the election and became the Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, 
     retired FBI Agent Stanley Peterson became the Youngstown, 
     Ohio Chief of Police. Informant became angry when he was made 
     aware that he was not going to get his expected promotion. 
     Informant then contacted Lenny Strollo, who at the time along 
     with Vic Calautti and Joey Naples reported to James Prato. 
     Immediately after informant told Strollo of what happened to 
     him, Strollo made a telephone call. Immediately following 
     Strollo's telephone call, Strollo told informant he was 
     promoted to a white shirt and tie promotion. Informant did 
     not hear Strollo's telephone conversation, however, he 
     strongly feels that Strollo talked to Youngstown, Ohio Chief 
     of Police, Stanley Peterson, the retired FBI Agent; (3) 
     Informant revealed that when Stanley Peterson was an FBI 
     Agent he was often seen at Standard Motors, 901 Andrews 
     Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio where mafia affiliated often met. 
     Informant said that FBI Agent Stanley Peterson ``had a key to 
     the place.'' Informant also stated that Stanley Peterson was 
     Joey Naples' man.
       Source: Affidavit of Congressional Lead Staff Investigator, 
     Frederick V. Hudach; Result: The evidence against Stanley 
     Peterson never brought before a Grand Jury; Finding: Stanley 
     Peterson, friend of the mob.


Lenine Strollo/Frank Fasline--Telephone Conversation, November 23, 1996

       Fact: Lenine Strollo told Frank Fasline during a November 
     23, 1996 telephone conversation: that FBI Agent Robert Kroner 
     was on Joseph Naples payroll; that FBI Agent Robert Kroner 
     said in essence that he has lots of friends, that they can do 
     whatever they want to do in this valley as long as they 
     cooperate with him; that the FBI got away with illegal 
     activity in the Mahoning Valley and the FBI was planning to 
     get away with illegal activity again; that the FBI got 
     involved in illegal activity and that the FBI wanted to make 
     him (Strollo) a scapegoat again.
       Source: FBI transcript of telephone wiretap titled 
     Government Exhibit #4; Result: Lenine Strollo recanted above 
     statements. Lenine Strollo in a plea bargain kept over $10 
     million in assets; Finding: Lenine Strollo traded the truth 
     in exchange for his assets.


                  Associate of Lenine Strollo Proffer

       Fact: (1) He caught Youngstown Police following him in 
     Campbell and he heard that the FBI was across the road, in 
     the mill with binoculars. Paulie told him not to worry about 
     it because they had an ``inside guy'' in FBI. (Page 4); (2) 
     Lenny Strollo told him about Biondillo running stags in the 
     City of Youngstown and they wondered how he was able to do 
     it. Lenny Strollo told him he heard that money went from 
     Biondillo through Vic Calautti to the Randall Wellington 
     campaign and that Biondillo had to have the okay from 
     Wellington to be able to hold stags inside the city of 
     Youngstown. (Page 45). He said that he heard that Biondillo 
     paid $25,000 to Vic Calautti to donate to Wellington's 
     campaign. (Page 49); (3) Lenny Strollo and he thought that 
     the guys at the Center (Youngstown United Music) were doing 
     business with FBI Agent Kroner as they were operating without 
     any pressure and therefore must have had the FBI's okay. 
     Lenny or Danny Strollo told him that Biondillo was talking to 
     and dealing with the FBI. (Page 58); (4) Lenny Strollo told 
     him that an agent told someone who told Strollo that FBI 
     Agent Kroner and those guys were on the Naples payroll for 
     years. He heard from Strollo that someone went to Kroner's 
     father to see if he could control Kroner. That person found 
     out that his father had no control over what he did. The 
     reason for this was to see if Lenny Strollo could have 
     control over Kroner like Naples did.
       Source: The Proffer of a Lenine Strollo Associate given at 
     the Euclid City Jail, Euclid, Ohio on 5-28, 6-4, 6-9, 6-30, 
     9-1, 11-13, 1998 in the presence of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, 
     FBI Special Agents and a Special Agent of the IRS; Result: 
     Information within Proffer suppressed; Finding: Obstruction 
     of Justice-Misprision by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Special 
     Agent FBI and Special Agent IRS.
       Fact: Informant, who wished to stay anonymous because of 
     fear for himself and family revealed the following: during 
     the early fall of 1997, Lenny Strollo, reputed leader of 
     Youngstown, Ohio Organized Crime, told me at his now closed 
     restaurant, at the northwest corner of Calla Road near Market 
     Street, North Lima, Ohio that Joey Naples had told him the 
     following: (a) he (Joey Naples) owned the FBI; and (b) he 
     (Joey Naples) made payoffs to the FBI through Special Agent 
     Lynch.
       Source: Affidavit of Congressional Lead Staff Investigator 
     Frederick V. Hudach; Result: FBI cover-up; Finding: FBI 
     Agents on Joey Naples' payroll.


                          judicial corruption

       Fact: Five separate crimes reported to the Youngstown 
     office of the FBI and the Department of Justice, and three 
     separate crimes reported to the Youngstown office of the FBI 
     and IRS who used their authority in aid of and in furtherance 
     to conceal the reported crimes by refusing to investigate and 
     prosecute members of the bench and bar in both Mahoning and 
     Trumbull Counties, Ohio; Source: Robert A. Frank Affidavits; 
     Result: FBI and Office of the U.S. Attorney refused to 
     totally investigate and prosecute; Finding: FBI, IRS and 
     office of U.S. Attorney has carried out and made effective a 
     pattern of selective prosecution and in some cases became an 
     accessory after the fact.
       Fact: An Investigative Chronology Exposing Extortion within 
     the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court System of four 
     Defendant's families for buyouts from prison was presented to 
     both the FBI Offices in Youngstown and Cleveland and to the 
     IRS Office in Youngstown; Source: Affidavit of Congressional 
     Lead Staff Investigator, Frederick V. Hudach. Affidavit of 
     Carl Stere; Result: No action taken by the United States 
     Department of Justice; Finding: Selective Prosecution. The 
     FBI/IRS/U.S. Attorneys will not prosecute their criminal 
     friends for political reasons.
       FBI refused to help a citizen of Trumbull County, Ohio who 
     was being extorted by members of the Aryan Brotherhood. If 
     the extortion money was not paid the citizen's son would be 
     killed in prison; Source: Affidavit of Congressional Lead 
     Staff Investigator, Frederick V. Hudach; Result: Troopers of 
     the Ohio State Highway Patrol saved the life of the son of 
     the citizen and arrested members of the Aryan Brotherhood; 
     Finding: Members of the FBI were deliberately indifferent to 
     their jurisdictional responsibility.
       Fact: Two Investigative Summaries exposing police perjury 
     and a bogus autopsy which occurred in Trumbull County, Ohio 
     was submitted to Members of the FBI and the Office of 
     Professional Responsibility; Source: Correspondence between 
     Congressional Lead Staff Investigator Frederick V. Hudach and 
     members of the FBI and member of Office of Professional 
     Responsibility; Result: Assistant U.S. Attorney decided they 
     did not have jurisdiction; Finding: Assistant U.S. Attorney 
     practiced selective prosecution.

     

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