Witnesses testify congressman used his influence to do favors

The head of a Youngstown halfway house said the congressman is the only politician to ever call him seeking favors.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. has the power of persuasion.
So say several witnesses who have testified in his federal corruption trial.
Jurors heard testimony this week from those who said Traficant, a Poland Democrat facing charges including racketeering and bribery, placed telephone calls or wrote letters to them asking for assistance for someone else. The congressman's inquiries led to results.
Richard J. Billak, chief executive officer at Community Corrections Association Inc., testified that Traficant called him to get contractor Anthony R. Bucci and A. David Sugar Jr., the son of contractor A. David Sugar Sr., transferred to his halfway house on Market Street to serve the remainder of their sentences. Also, Billak testified that Traficant interceded on Bucci's behalf when the contractor violated CCA rules by failing to keep in contact with the agency.
Charges: Traficant's indictment charges the congressman with accepting free labor, goods and services for his Greenford family farm from contractors including Bucci and Sugar in exchange for political favors.
During an interview, Billak said Traficant was the only person who ever exerted political pressure on him.
"I've never had a public official call for something like that," Billak said. "It was unique, especially from that level. In terms of political influence, I have not had any pressure from any politician other than the congressman. We deal a lot with the county commissioners and common pleas judges. They don't call. They respect our professionalism."
If Traficant had not called, Bucci and Sugar would not have served the rest of their sentences at CCA, Billak said. But regardless of who put a word in for them, if they were not qualified to come to CCA, they would not have been there, Billak said.
"In terms of accepting Bucci and Sugar, it was appropriate," he said. "There was no lack of professionalism in that decision-making."
But Billak acknowledges he may have been "remiss" when he removed a sanction on Bucci because of Traficant's intervention.
A requirement for Bucci to serve his time through the CCA program was that when he was home, he had to call the agency at certain times so they could monitor his whereabouts, Billak said. Bucci failed to do so, and as a result, CCA officials were going to restrict his movement outside the home to work privileges only, Billak said.
Then Billak got a call from Traficant.
"The congressman said, 'The guy had some heart problems. He won't be bad again and can you rescind the restriction,' which I did," Billak said. "I don't get calls from the congressman's office and it was with the minutia of internal behavior. In 30 years of this business, I never talked to Traficant on the phone before this."
Bank loan: A Bank One vice president testified that Michael Brenan, the bank's then-president, in 1994 told him to lend almost $1 million to Greg Tyson, a minority contractor with poor credit who was affiliated with the Buccis, after Traficant called on Tyson's behalf. Tyson defaulted on the loans. Brenan, who last worked for Bank One five years ago, could not be reached to comment.
Jeff Lyttle, a Columbus-based Bank One spokesman, would not comment on the specifics of the Tyson loan. But he said each loan application is unique and there are a variety of factors that go into deciding the fate of a loan. He would not specifically state that a telephone call from a prominent politician on behalf of an applicant was one of those factors.
"There are parameters we look at including credit worthiness," Lyttle said. "Then we look at extenuating circumstances that could change the situation."
William M. Carter, executive director of the Youngstown Area Development Corp., and Michael D. Keys, executive director of the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp., say they receive referrals from politicians on behalf of businesses seeking loans and financial assistance. But neither said the level of political intervention comes close to the testimony given in the Traficant trial.
Keys said Traficant's office called on occasion with referrals, but nothing that was unusual.
"We have never had a politician ask us to give special consideration to anyone," Keys said. "Never once have I received a call from a politician asking for a favor. Hopefully, they know well enough not to do that."
Carter said no politician has ever asked him to alter a loan application on behalf of a business.
"There have been politicians, not Traficant, who have mentioned that they have talked to a specific individual and they referred that person to me," he said.
But that's as far as it has ever gone, he said.
Testimony about Buccis: Wilbert Baccus of the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, D.C., testified that Traficant threatened a congressional investigation of the agency if Bucci and his brother, Robert, were disqualified from bidding on federal contracts. Anthony Bucci's debarment was cut in half to 18 months, and his brother received a six-month debarment. Baccus did not give a reason for the reductions during his testimony.
An FHA spokeswoman would not comment on the issue Wednesday.