FBI won't press charges in bribery case

AUSTINTOWN -- The FBI isn't going to pursue charges against a former township road inspector who it says took bribes from former paving contractor James R. Sabatine.
Police Lt. Mark Durkin told trustees at their meeting Monday night that, according to the FBI, the statute of limitations on charges related to the bribes ran out several years ago.
He said that while FBI officials did not name the employee, they noted that he had retired several years ago.
The road inspector was listed in an FBI report in which Sabatine detailed several instances in which he gave bribes to government officials in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
U.S. Rep. James. A. Traficant Jr. read from the report during his racketeering trial in federal court in Cleveland last week.
Sabatine, who pleaded guilty to engaging in a pattern of racketeering and filing a false tax return, says he bribed the congressman with $2,400.
The FBI report states that the Austintown road inspector took $10,000 over a period of several years from Sabatine. It also said the inspector's replacement took $2,000.
Trustees asked Durkin to speak with the FBI about the report.
Durkin did not discuss the inspector's replacement.
Trustees stressed that township road employees do an excellent job.