A defense attorney said the defendants are good people trying to support their families.

A defense attorney said the defendants are good people trying to support their families.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CLEVELAND -- A father and son construction company paid a Warren city official to get contracts as the "price of doing business," defense attorneys say.
John Fowler and Leo Keating, who represent Dante Massacci Jr. and Dante Massacci Sr. called their clients "pawns" after a brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
"They are good people that were trying to support their families," Fowler said.
The Massaccis have been accused in a federal bill of information of paying an unidentified Warren city official $70,000 to obtain more than $770,000 in city contracts.
"They were told that in order to get city business, they had to pay," Fowler said.
Both Massaccis entered innocent pleas Friday before Judge Patricia Anne Gaughan. Pretrial hearings were set for 11 a.m. Nov. 7.
Massacci Jr., 33, of Shadowood Lane, Howland, and Massacci Sr., 79, of Central Parkway Avenue S.E., Warren, are charged with one count each of conspiracy to interfere with commerce. Each is free on $10,000 bond.
The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines if they are convicted.
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Mayor Hank Angelo and city Law Director Gregory Hicks were surprised to learn the Massaccis felt they had to pay money to get city contracts.
"I wish those involved would have come to us right then," Angelo said. "I know both the Massaccis, and they are good people. I wish they would have told me because if I would have known, I would have had an investigation start right then."
The mayor has previously said he thinks the official involved no longer works for the city.
The eight-page information, filed with the court by the U.S. attorney's office earlier this month, says the Massaccis, who owned South Main Sand and Gravel, obtained six public and private contracts.
South Main Sand and Gravel is no longer in business.
The document says the city official sought kickbacks from the Massaccis in return for the contracts from August 1994 to Oct. 6, 1997.
Some of the projects alleged to have been involved include construction of a clubhouse at the city-owned Avalon South Golf Course and demolition contracts with Delphi Packard Electric Systems and on Mahoningside Power Plant.