U.S. targets ex-rep's family

The depositions are set for next week at the U.S. attorney's office.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
CLEVELAND -- As the government hunts for assets to satisfy ex-congressman Jim Traficant's $150,000 fine, his wife and daughter have been targeted and told what documents to bring.
Subpoenas issued to Traficant's wife, Tish Traficant, and daughter, Elizabeth Traficant Chahine, require them to be at the U.S. attorney's office on Superior Avenue at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday. Tish Traficant accepted her own and her daughter's subpoena at the Traficant home on Main Street in Poland.
The subpoenas were issued by Richard J. French, an assistant U.S. attorney assigned to the civil division. French informed the women that depositions will be taken and that certain documents must be made available to the government next Tuesday.
French has also sought to seize, through garnishment of the auctioneer and Elizabeth Chahine, proceeds of an auction of Traficant memorabilia held Dec. 1 in Brookfield.
The garnishment is an effort to collect a $150,000 fine levied by the judge who sentenced Traficant to eight years in prison in July. The 61-year-old ex-congressman from Poland, found guilty of racketeering and tax evasion, also owes a $96,000 forfeiture and nearly $20,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Documents they must show
French has asked each woman to bring next week:
UCopies of federal income tax returns for the past three years.
U All documents showing ownership of personal or real property belonging to Jim Traficant with a value of more than $100.
U All titles, deeds, mortgages and other documents evidencing their ownership in real estate and the dates they acquired such ownership.
UAll leases, notes receivable, mortgage, liens, contracts, judgments and other documents evidencing income, dividends or royalties owed or paid to them.
UAll records, including pay stubs evidencing your gross wages, salary or commissions for the past six months.
UAll records establishing ownership in all or part of any business as sole owner, partner or stockholder and the financial condition of such business for the past three years including a statement of assets, inventories, liabilities, gross and net income and the amount of any undistributed profits in the business.
UAll titles and registrations for all motor vehicles owned in whole or part by Jim Traficant. All titles and registrations for all motor vehicles transferred to them by him.
UAll receipts, appraisals and other statements or documents establishing ownership and value of jewelry and furs owned by them and/or theirr business.
UStatements for all their checking, savings and trust accounts for the past 12 months.
UAll records and statements for certificate of deposit savings bond, stocks, bonds, coupons and mutual funds they and/or their business may own, separately or jointly with Jim Traficant.
UAll life insurance policies in effect and all records evidencing their face value and cash surrender value where the name insured is Jim Traficant and they are the beneficiary.
UAll records establishing them and/or their business interest in any account held by someone else on them and/or their business behalf in any bank, savings institution or credit union.
UAll records evidencing their ownership and/or their business interest in any property, real or personal, in the possession of or name of any person or corporation.
UA list of all their and/or their business real property transferred by gift, sale or otherwise since Feb. 1, 2002 and all records establishing the transfer and the value received.
UAll records evidencing their receipt of any pension, disability compensation, retirement pay or other benefits from the United States or any other source on behalf of Jim Traficant."
Tish Traficant is a hairdresser at a shop on Belmont Avenue, and her daughter, by last account in October, was a desk clerk at Ohio Workers' Compensation downtown.
meade@vindy.com