Mangone Singing ‘Like A Canary’ To Feds

Anthony Mangone

Our sources tell us that one of the three stooges is ‘singing like a canary’ to federal prosecutors. Anthony Mangone is the one said to be running out of the gate, and telling all in hopes of getting the best deal for himself.

Out of the three indicted for bribery, extortion and tax crimes, Mangone is the one who knows the most about a wide array of Westchester political deals. Mangone, Zehy Jereis and Sandy Annabi were all indicted last month by the Feds for buying Annabi’s vote on the city council for two development projects.

We also hear that the reason for Federal prosecutors coming out and attempting to seal information related to this case is because of the recently obtained information they got from Mangone.

Mangone could be chirping about his relations with Westchester political powerbrokers like Nick Spano, or his friendship with the Tanglewood Boys, or relations with known organized crime figures through marriage.

Now that Mangone has made the first move, whose next?

Three Westchester Republicans to Watch-Amicone, Feld & Ball

       

Three Republicans to watch–Mayor Phil Amicone, Assemblyman Greg Ball, Mayor Liz Feld

If the economic woes plaguing the country, the State of New York and here in Westchester continue through to November, county voters can expect a wild, and interesting election.

        New Yorkers will be electing a Governor, U.S. Senator and all of the member of the Assembly and Senate. Democrats have control of all three bodies, and as a result, have the most to lose this fall.

        While State Republicans continue to find a candidate to take on the expected Democratic Gubernatorial nominee, Andrew Cuomo, there real focus and efforts to date have been to retake control of the State Senate. Democrats hold a 32-30 advantage, and Republicans are looking to defeat two democratic incumbent senators.

        In lower Westchester, Democratic State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, in completing her fourth term in the 35^th District, which includes Yonkers, Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant.  Before Stewart-Cousins, the seat was held by Republican Nick Spano for 20 years.

        State Republicans are ‘extremely interested’ in getting Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone to run against Stewart-Cousins. Amicone in his 6^th year as Yonkers Mayor, Westchester’s largest City, has encouraged economic development and has kept tax increases to a minimum.  But the Mayor’s belief that Albany is broken, and his popularity, evident in his two elections wins in Yonkers, a city with a large Democratic enrollment,  makes him an attractive candidate.

        While Amicone wants to continue the job in Yonkers with his final two years as Mayor, he is known to want to help Republicans get a majority in the senate this fall because of the upcoming redistricting of all assembly and senate seats.

        Redistricting happens every 10 years, and if Democrats have a Governor, and majorities in both the Assembly and Senate, they will redraw the districts to their own benefit. This could mean Democratic control of State government for a long time. This factor may make Amicone take the plunge. Rising media has learned that Amicone has opened a campaign account called “Amicone for New York” to keep his options open.

        But Democrats will not let Senator Stewart-Cousins go down without a fight. Stewart-Cousins must come home with the bacon this fall, but will be hampered in doing so because of a disastrous state budget, with a $8 Billion deficit. But if Stewart-Cousins can deliver for Yonkers, faced with a $6.5 Million cut in education funding in Governor David Paterson’s proposed budget, she can point to this fact, as Nick Spano always did, of coming through and using her clout in Albany.

        A Stewart-Cousins-Amicone race would be the hot race in Westchester this November.

        Moving up the county to Larchmont, Republican Mayor Liz Feld recently announced that she would not run for re-election. Feld is active in New Yorkers For Growth, a group dedicated to stopping “excessive taxes and government spending that are driving jobs, people, and businesses out of New York State.”

      Feld considered running for U.S. Senate this fall but decided against it. Two years ago Feld ran for State Senate against Democrat Suzi Oppenheimer. Feld lost badly in that race, but a Democratic tidal wave with President Obama at the top of the ticket in 2008 may be the reason.

        Oppenheimer is serving her 26^th Year as senator in the 37^th district, representing the Westchester communities of New Rochelle, Rye, Harrison, While Plains, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, New Castle, North Castle and Ossining. Is Feld considering a rematch against Senator Suzi this November? Or does she have another race in mind?    

        Feld’s watched as Rob Astorino was elected County Executive last year, and sees the desire for change and reform from the voters. Her political future remains bright. She is an attractive, fiscally conservative and socially moderate candidate. While the Republican ‘farm system’ of candidates in Westchester is slim, Feld is there top prospect.

        In Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties, a shakeup is underway in the State Senate’s 40th District. Long time incumbent Senator Vinny Liebell will not run for re-election and will run for Putnam County Executive.

        Running to replace Liebell in the senate is Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball. Ball is a rising star in the Republican party, and was considering a run for Congress against Democrat John Hall, but decided to run for senate.

        Ball is outspoken, independent minded, and fits the mold of the voter’s current desire for change, reform and lower taxes. Ball could end up facing off against Democratic County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz. Kaplowitz ran for this same senate seat two years ago, losing to Liebell but in a closer race than expected.

Another wild card in the future’s of Amicone, Feld and Ball is who will run for U.S. Senate against Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. As the results of the election of U.S. Senator Scott Brown show, a little known, independent minded candidate can win in this election environment

        Phil Amicone, Liz Feld and Greg Ball are three Republican Westchester elected officials whose political futures will impact the election of 2010 here in Westchester and the future of state government in Albany.  

        Next Week-Three Westchester Democrats to watch.

Westchester Political Probe Quiet-With Second Wave of Indictments Coming

It’s been quiet on the political corruption scandal recently,  but we keep hearing that there is much more to come, and that the investigation will be taking some interesting turns.

The next wave of indictments can head south—to the Bronx and to New York City.  Mangone has deep ties to the Bronx Republican party, to the ES&S $40 Million contract award, and to known organized crime figures.

Back in Westchester, there remain unanswered questions from the indictments of Anthony Mangone, Zehy Jereis, and Sandy Annabi. Jereis has put his spacious Yonkers home (with a Scarsdale PO) up for sale. Who gave Zehy $130,000 to give to Annabi remains unanswered, as does what role the two developers who were shaken down for $$$,  Milio Brothers and Ratner, play in future indictments.

The Ridge Hill part of the indictments are the most sketchy, with only Jereis alleged to have received a $50,000 consulting contract to get Annabi’s vote.  Were there more payments, or favors, granted to Sandy, for her vote? Also who introduced Jereis to the Ratner people. There is an unnamed middle man yet to be disclosed.

Unchartered waters in this scandal, include Zehy’s many public funded jobs throughout his civil service career in Westchester. Jereis worked for State Senator Nick Spano, the Westchester Board of Elections (talk about putting the fox in the hen house) and for the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce.

The unsavory practice of handing out nominations for political judgeships has also been untouched to date by the U.S. Attorney.  One Westchester judge was the favored candidate by a party chairman, who received a multi party endorsement despite being deemed unqualified by the State Bar Association.

And to my two critic bloggers—anon and who’s kissing who.  I enjoy your comments, keep them coming.  But this is a Westchester political blog—whose purpose as I see it is to both inform the public, share information, and speculate on the path of this investigation.  We have all learned about some interesting facts, which have been verified and are public information.

Regarding Al Pirro, yes anon you are correct, he has not been charged (yet) but I don’t know how anyone can determine if he is a target.  I am not the only one that has speculated that Al could be a future target. And the fact that Al was close to at least 2 of the 3 indicted is material to this case.

I think that this is a problem with our ethical, not legal, actions taken by those deeply involved in development, politics and government in Westchester. You should be careful who you do business with, and if those close to you get indicted, one could logically draw a perception of unethical behavior from these associations-and we can and should all blog about it

Sandy Annabi & Al Pirro’s “Friendship”

Sandy Annabi

For several years, rumors have abounded about an alleged close  friendship between Westchester power broker Al Pirro and disgraced former
City councilwoman Sandy Annabi.  Al was married, now separated to Jeanine Pirro, and both Jeannie and Sandy are of  Arab background.
The Westchester Guardian broke a story last week about a dinner allegedly held between Al, Sandy, Mike and Nick Spano and others. Whether or not this gathering ever took place, it is one of many, many alleged meetings between Al and Sandy.
Our Yonkers sources have told us of first hand eyewitness accounts of dinners between the two at Mulino’s in White Plains, and many many alleged
rendezvous at a upscale private home of a friend in Yonkers.
Many believe that Al and Sandy were lovers. This claim has been
denied to us by Sandy, but she lied to us about dozens of other questions we
had about her criminal involvement before her indictment.
The alleged romance between Al and Sandy could explain how Sandy
received $160,000 from Zehy Jereis. According to the indictment, we know that $30,000 came from Milio Brothers-Longfellow project. That leaves $130,000. Who gave Zehy $130k to give to Sandy—Zehy did not take the money out of his mattress to give to his cousin.
Who has the resources, and the desires-both political and sexual, to
shower Sandy Annabi with cash, jewels, and perks to keep her happy?
Al Pirro is one the ‘Bigger Fish’ that the Feds are said to be
hunting, based on information provided to them from Annabi, Jereis or
Mangone, or other sources.
Al’s name is one of the big ones tossed out by Phil Reisman and
others, who could be on the Feds radar. Nick Spano is the other big
name, as a possible target and suspect.
Why Al and Nick? Both have close professional relations to the three
indicted—Annabi, Jereis and Mangone. And anyone else associated with these three can also become, or has already become, part of this probe.

That’s the way it works folks—and why you should also be careful about who you do business with. Especially when its government business involving taxpayer funds.

Savino Feeling the Heat? Uses Mangone as RE Attorney

Here’s an email we received from one of our bloggers, which further strengthens the relationship between indicted Anthony Mangone and attorney and Bronx GOP Chairman Jay Savino.

 Well look what we have, please see attached pd, it is a sale of a house that Jay Savino owned with his mom Brenda Savino. The closing lawyer is Anthony Mangone using the same address he used for Mardon Consulting at 399 Knollwood Road Suite 301 and where Jay Savino shares his law office in the same suite as Mangone. Jay lived at 1368 Kearney Ave in the Bronx when he ran for state senate. Then he moved with his family to 2 Kohler Court in Congers, NY and now he sold that house and he has another house under his wife’s name Carri Savino (maiden name is Carri Sarter). The new house they moved into is at 140 Waters Edge, in Congers, NY, it is now listed just under his wife’s name Carri Savino and Jay’s mother in law’s name Laura Sarter. Now why did Jay remove his name from the properties, maybe pending federal RICO charges? And how can a Bronx GOP leader live in Rockland County, he uses his mother’s Brenda Savino address at 1959 Colden Ave in the Bronx as his registered voting address. All his kids go to public school in Rockland county. For any information on the properties that Josph J. Savino owns in Rockland county along with his wife Carri or Carri A. Savino just check it out at the Rockland County property website at http://12.2592.131/resolution/search_menu.asp

We have the real estate contract and will attach it tomorrow.

Yes, this transaction is completely legal and above board, but consider the following. Many had speculated that Savino and Mangone did not have a close relationship, this squashes that claim.

Second Savino’s actions are frequently taken by those about to face federal indictment and freezing of assets. To avoid the freeze, suspects transfer assets to loved ones.

Third, Savino is getting sucked into the discussions about the Federal investigation because he had close professional ties with Mangone, and Mangone has been indicted for bribery and extortion.

The Feds may already know that Savino was involved in the ES&S award, of which Mangone was a paid consultant. $40 Million contract, approved on the same day the indictments came out.

For anyone not seeing this, and where this investigation is going, I would like to know what they are smoking.

Mangone’s Goose is Cooked-The ES&S Scandal and the Brawl at BLT

      The scandal, blogged about here for weeks, involving the award of a New York City contract to provide electronic voting machines, was picked up and reported on lohud. It outlines how indicted attorney Anthony Mangone served as lobbyist for Election Systems & Software, ES&S, who was awarded the $40 Million contract by NYC.

      ES&S couldn’t get the contract for 4 years, until they hired Mangone, who they paid $48.100 to help grease the way. Miraculously, after failed efforts by some of the top lobbyists, the Commissioners of the NYC Board of Elections approved the $40 Million contract to ES&S.

      On that same day, Mangone, Jereis and Annabi were indicted! Were the Feds waiting for the contract to be awarded?

      One of the NYC Commissioners was J.C. Polanco. Polanco became a commissioner after Jay Savino stepped down to run for State Senate. Savino is the Chairman of the Bronx GOP and Polanco was his deputy.

      While Polanco claims that he only knew Mangone through Republican politics, Savino and Mangone were close, they shared a Westchester  law office suite. And there is the connection to the contract award—Mangone-Savino-Polanco—Approved—this is the latest theory that many believe is one of the future criminal indictments hanging over Mangone’s head.

      Before he was indicted, Mangone was involved in a brawl at the BLT Steakhouse, in the Ritz Carlton White Plains, (a very unusual place for a fight). Mangone and one of his friends from the infamous Tanglewood Boys gang, popped in on Max DiFabio at BLT for a Holiday visit on December 23.

      DiFabio has been involved in Westchester Republican politics going back to the 1990’s, running for the Assembly in 2000. He is also a printer, who got a lot of the political print work from Republicans, before current Westchester GOP Chair Doug Colety took it over.

      Mangone and Tanglewood buddy roughed up Max, with Mangone head butting DiFabio in the face, according to the complaint, which DiFabio filed, but then withdrew later on.  Why was Mangone upset with Max? And who could be the link between Mangone and DiFabio. Let’s think—a high ranking Westchester Republican back in 2000? A mentor of Mangone’s, and lots of political printing cash on the other side. Any guesses?

      What this shows is erratic behavior from Mangone, who was picked up at his house for his arraignment, and advised by the court to stay away from gambling, drugs and alcohol. Let’s see—what illegal enterprises are involved in gambling and drugs? There are many ways the Mangone portion of this case may end up.

Annabi Parts Ways With Don’t Worry Murray

Sandy Annabi

Councilwoman Sandy Annabi has parted ways with her criminal defense attorney, Murray “Don’t Worry” Richman recently, citing financial difficulties. Annabi appeared in Federal court in White Plains on Tuesday with her new attorney, public defender Suzane Brody.

Annabi was caught driving to court in her Mercedes, (which is leased), and during the court proceeding in which Judge George Yanthis granted her request, Annabi’s finances were reviewed.

While Annabi is now broke, (or so she claims), she was earning a decent living and living the high life, for the past 3 years that she was a target of the federal investigation which has now charged her with bribery, extortion and income tax fraud. Now after the party is over for Annabi, the taxpayers will foot part of her legal costs.

“Ms. Annabi has known this day was coming,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Perry Carbone said. “She has made no effort to adjust her lifestyle so she could pay for counsel.” But prosecutors did not challenge Annabi’s request. Why?

Some believe that Annabi is ready to begin to “sing’ to the Feds, if she hasn’t already done so. The move to remove Richman as her criminal defense attorney is also interesting.

Richman claims that the reasons are financial, and that he has represented Annabi for free for the past 3 years as a favor to the familiy, Richman has represented Annabi’s father years ago.

Sandy is listed as the owner of 45 Bacon Place in Yonkers, one of the two houses Annabi owned, outside of her district, when she was on the council. Sandy’s parents curretnly live in the house, and Carbone has suggested selling that house to pay for her legal defense. Sandy also still owns a co-op at 245 Rumsey Road in Yonkers.

We also hear that there are new charges and indictments around the corner. Who could they be and who could be providing the information?

Retraction! Zehy Jereis Not Connected to Oakley’s Car Wash

In the January 15^th issue of Yonkers Rising, we reported about  Zehy Jereis and his ownership links to Oakley’s Car Wash.  Based on discussions and additional research, we retract this portion of the story. Zehy Jereis does not have any ownership in Oakley’s Car Wash in Yonkers. We stand corrected and wish to apologize to Oakley’s Car Wash, a business that we frequent in Yonkers.

Mangone’s Attorney Likes Defending Mobsters

Anthony Mangone’s attorney on his Federal Bribery and Extortion charges here in White Plains is Barry Levin.  Levin is known for his representation of numerous organized-crime figures all the way up the ladder of Cosa Nostra.

Levin represented Columbo acting boss Alphones “Allie Boy” Persico in his racketering trial in Brooklyn. Bonnano acting boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano was also represented by Levin in his Brooklyn murder, racketing and gambling case. Genovese acting boss Liborio “Barney” Bellomo is also represented by Levin.

3 other ID’s mobsters, Tommy Cappy, Vinny Nasso and Al Tranquillo III (who is also Patsy Parello’s nephew) were all represented by Levin.

So the question is, why did Mangone choose a mob attorney for his case?  Most likely are his existing ties to organized crime figures, due in part to his wife’s family connections and to Mangone’s representation of the mob. Mangone was also caught on a wiretap as acting as a middle man relaying informaiton between 2 known OC figures.

What other information and additional charges the Feds have on Mangone may also have played a role in the retainment of Levin. Based on his high profile representation in organized crime racketeering trials, Levin’s experience has been to try these cases.

Disgraced councilwoman Sandy Annabi quickly hired criminal defense attorney Murray “don’t worry murrary” Richman. I have a show on WVOX Wednesday’s 1-2 pm, and Murray follows my show.

I spoke with him today and listened to his show, but got no comment and no infromation. Murray is already ‘dialed into’ this case. On the radio, Murray railed against the media coverage of all criminal cases, claiming that they were slanted towards the prosecution.

But make no mistake-Richman is a top notch criminal defense attorney, which makes sense for Annabi, who is really just a pawn in the chess game of indictments.

Who is Zehy’s attorney?

Annabi-Mangone-Jereis–and Yonkers Confidential–Only at YonkersRising.com

Our old friend Yonkers Confidential has returned after a long hiatus–waiting for the corruption busts to come. YC writes–

The Gambino crime family controlled Action Redi-Mix. It was Gambino capo Greg DePalma’s business, and he controlled it through Action Redi-Mix’s co-owner, Richard Vetter, identified as a Gambino associate by the FBI.

Action Redi-Mix’s other co-owner was Dave Purdy, a good friend of Mayor John Spencer. Spencer put Purdy on the Yonkers Zoning Board in 1997. It is also alleged that Spencer had Purdy made treasurer of the Yonkers Republican Party.

John Spencer’s other good friend was Al Pirro, who introduced Dave Purdy to Spencer. Al Pirro was good friends and a golf buddy of Robert Persico of Persico Construction, another FBI-indentified Gambino associate.

With Purdy now on the Zoning Board, the Yonkers City Council, under City Council President Vinny Restiano, began discussions on a proposed zoning change from commercial manufacturing to industrial that would allow a concrete plant to be build in a residential area that bordered Yonkers, Mt. Vernon and New York City. Interestingly, the request came from the City’s Planning Board. The concrete plant in question? Action Redi-Mix.

One of the attorney’s who represented Action Redi-Mix? Al Pirro’s good friend, Republican pundit Mike Edelman, along with the White Plains law firm of Bleakley, Platt & Schmidt. They argued against the need for an environmental impact study and traffic impact study.

Al Pirro served as Action Redi-Mix’s lobbyist.

The zoning change was approved by the Yonkers City Council in November 1997. Yonkers issued a building permit and related permits immediately afterwards to Action Redi-Mix, although there was a stop work order being considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Residents then sought to reveres a February 18, 1998 decision by State Supreme Court Justice Matthew F. Coppola granting Action Redi-Mix’s motion to dismiss the court case of the group and denying its motion for summary judgement against the company. Justice Coppola issued a decision in favor of Action Redi-Mix a few weeks later.

Then in late November of 1998, the Appellaate Divison of the State Supreme Court ruled that the Yonkers City Council violated the SEQRA laws last year when it rezoned the property so that Action Redi-Mix Corp. could operate its plant there, then concluded two months later that the project would pose no significant environmental impacts. The Yonkers City Council appealed the Appellate courts decision.

Action Redi-Mix then filed a federal suit that accused Mt. Vernon of violating the equal protection and due process clauses of the constitution’s 14th amendment. It cited, in part, the approvals the company received in Yonkers. Mt. Vernon responded with only general references to ‘zoning requirements.’

“Mt. Vernon refused to reveal any law, ordinance, rule or regulation that requires site plan approval for the issuance of a water permit,” Action Redi-Mix stated in its court complaint.

That refusal stood even after State Supreme Court Judge Franics A. Nicolai directed the city to issue the permit in August of 1998.

A few year later, Gambino capo Greg DePalma was heard on an FBI wire saying that the Italian Exec was paid $150,00, Spencer $50,000 and Restiano $35,000. Now you know what they were paid for.