CLEVELAND Fugitive plans to plead guilty, lawyer says

CLEVELAND -- Longtime fugitive Robert T. Bucci has reached a plea agreement with the government, his lawyer says.
Bucci, 57, who once lived in Canfield, fled to Cuba in December 1998, rather than face criminal prosecution on charges of conspiracy to defraud the IRS, filing false tax returns and tax evasion. He was captured in May in Panama City, Panama, and has been held in Miami, Fla., pending extradition to Ohio.
In a motion filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Bucci's lawyer said his client has agreed to plead guilty to the charges. Bucci wants to arrange his own travel and also pay the expenses of a marshal assigned to transport him.
The decision on the request will be made by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr.
U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott said today he is against Bucci's flying from Florida to Cleveland at his own expense. Elliott said he wants Bucci to travel "like everyone else" in the custody of U.S. marshals.
Information provided by Bucci's brother, Anthony R. Bucci, helped lead to the downfall of James A. Traficant Jr., the expelled 17th District congressman in prison. Anthony Bucci, formerly of Liberty, resides in Florida.