PURCHASING PROBE County administrator testifies to grand jury

Earlier this week Carson refused to say if he had been subpoenaed.
WARREN -- Trumbull County Administrator Tony Carson refused to talk to reporters Friday as he hustled out of the county courthouse after a half-hour grand jury appearance.
This is the first time Carson has been subpoenaed to appear before the panel, which has been investigating what prosecutors say was a scheme to overcharge taxpayers for goods and services bought through the Trumbull County Maintenance Department.
Earlier this week, Carson refused to say whether he had been called to testify before the grand jury, but maintained he has always cooperated with investigators.
Carson was promoted to county administrator in January. From 2001 to 2004, he was county purchasing director, responsible for preparing bid specifications and checking prices on county purchases. Before that, he worked in the Trumbull County Auditor's office.
Auditor David Hines also testified before the grand jury for about a half-hour.
"I answered the questions, it was routine," he said. "It went good, I guess."
County commissioners Joseph J. Angelo Jr. and James G. Tsagaris and Sheriff Thomas Altiere appeared before the grand jury Thursday.
Also testifying
Others appearing Friday included Al DeVengencie, maintenance director, and three other workers in the maintenance department.
DeVengencie was promoted from director of the vehicle maintenance department to head of both departments late last year, after former maintenance director Tony Delmont was indicted on charges of theft in office.
Prosecutors say Delmont helped vendors and salesmen steal more than $400,000 from the county by overcharging for maintenance supplies in return for bribes. He pleaded innocent to the charges.
Others indicted in the scandal include Delmont's wife, Karen; heating and air conditioning repairman Dennis Pirko; and Linda and Terry Maiorana, officers in the Canfield company Lid Chem.
Barry Jacobson, president of Envirochemical, of Bedford Heights, has pleaded guilty to theft and bribery charges. In a sworn statement, Jacobson said that he believed bribes he paid to Delmont were given to elected officials.
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