Traficant feeling the wrath of the feds

The vengeance with which federal prosecutors are going after the $150,000 fine that former Congressman James A. Traficant Jr. has to pay as part of his federal sentence is no doubt designed to send a message to other Mahoning Valley crooks who are in their cross hairs: Don't mess with us.
Traficant forced the feds to take him to trial and he lost -- big time.
By contrast, Mafia boss Lenine Strollo, obviously inspired by the patron saint of mobsters (whoever that is), cut a deal with the government and has been rewarded.
After all, the cash value of Traficant's criminal behavior during his 17 years in the U.S. House of Representatives pales in comparison with the value of Strollo's criminal portfolio. Indeed, Traficant's self-enrichment while in public office would make him an amateur compared with former Mahoning County Prosecutor James A. Philomena, another scumbag big shot who entered into a plea agreement.
Thus while the Office of the United States Attorney in Cleveland is to be applauded for collecting all the fruit of Traficant's poisoned tree, the image of Strollo and Philomena sitting pretty -- albeit behind bars -- is hard to accept.
Traficant is serving an eight-year sentence in a federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania after being found guilty of 10 criminal charges by a jury in federal court in Cleveland. Among the charges were racketeering, bribery and tax evasion. He was accused of using his public position for personal gain.
Racketeering, bribery and tax evasion certainly describe mob boss Strollo's almost seven decades in organized crime. Indeed, he has pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge and is awaiting sentencing. But Strollo found religion and has become an important government snitch. In return for providing the feds with information about the Mafia locally and nationally, the La Cosa Nostra disciple won't have the book thrown at him. He will receive credit for the time he has already spent in custody
And he gets to keep his assets, including his sprawling home in Canfield and $10 million in cash, his interest in Ace Fireworks Co. of Conneaut, Ohio, his interest in what was the Ramada Inn in Liberty Township and his interest in the proceeds from the sale of a hotel and a casino in Puerto Rico.
Not a bad deal. Had Strollo not copped a plea and had he not agreed to spill his guts, he would be in the same position that Traficant is in today.
All mobbed up
Why? Because his poisoned tree bore lots of fruit. In sworn testimony, Strollosaid he began in the "business" when he was a teenager. He was a numbers runner. Then through hard work, dedication and self-improvement, he moved up in the organization. As he testified in open court, murder was part of his business.
Yes, murder. By contrast, Traficant was accused by the federal government of forcing members of his staff to kick back a portion of their salaries to him and to work on his farm. He also took a $13,000 "unlawful gratuity" from Youngstown developer J.J. Cafaro and received things of value from other constituents in return for helping them maneuver through the federal bureaucracy.
Strollo, on the other hand, was one of the mainstays of organized crime and government corruption in the Valley. He made millions of dollars through his illegal businesses and dealt with his competitors the old-fashioned way: He caused them to disappear.
As for Philomena, he's serving a four-year sentence in a federal correctional institution after pleading guilty to bribery, perjury and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. He admitted operating a criminal enterprise that sold justice in Mahoning County. According to lawyers who were part of the enterprise, thousands of dollars in bribes, payoffs and kickbacks exchanged hands.
And the dirtiest of hands belonged to then Prosecutor Philomena.
His mansion at Lake Milton, his antiques, his sports car and motorcycle were all fruits of the poisoned tree.
Yet, the federal government hasn't made a move to deprive him of his riches.
One day in the not too distant future, James A. Traficant Jr. will wake up in the middle of the night and see the handwriting on the wall: S-U-C-K-E-R.
MATH FOR DUMMIES
When you add $203,520 to $50,000 to $7,200 you get $260,720 -- not $325,520 as was claimed in this space last week during a discussion about the compensation package that David Sweet, president of Youngstown State University, is receiving.
It certainly was unkind to make Sweet's annual salary grab worse than it is.