TRUMBULL COUNTY Probe of buying goes on

The grand jury is scheduled to meet today.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- While a grand jury begins to hear additional information regarding Trumbull County's purchasing probe, some county officials wonder when the investigation will end.
Some county maintenance employees and Karen Delmont, the estranged wife of the former maintenance director, have been issued subpoenas to testify during today's grand jury proceedings.
Commissioner James Tsagaris, Sheriff Thomas Altiere and Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien, a former commissioner, who have testified in front of the grand jury on previous occasions, say they have not been subpoenaed and wonder when the probe will be over.
Commissioner Joseph Angelo did not return phone calls.
"I went a few times to the grand jury, and the last time was three months ago," Tsagaris said. "I'd like to know when this is all going to be over with. I have no idea where it's going or what they're doing."
Altiere agreed, saying he also wished the matter was over. He said he has been asked to testify in the past.
For the past two years, Trumbull prosecutors and officials with the state attorney general's office and the state auditor's office have been poring over thousands of documents, including purchase orders and bank statements, to get to the bottom of the scandal.
The special county grand jury has indicted eight people. Out of the eight, six either worked for or owned janitorial companies that sold goods to the county.
In August, Prosecutor Dennis Watkins appointed Victor Vigluicci, Portage County prosecutor, to take over the probe.
The grand jury met briefly last week, and Tony Delmont, the former maintenance director, testified. Because grand jury proceedings are secret, his testimony has not been made public.
Delmont's attorney, Robert Shaker, declined to comment.
Background
For at least three years, Delmont was buying maintenance and cleaning supplies in huge quantities and at exorbitant prices. He pleaded guilty in May to bribery, money laundering and theft-in-office charges.
But the commissioners and the county sheriff say they had no involvement or knowledge of the scheme despite the numerous indictments and admissions by defendants that elected officials knew of the purchasing scam that cost taxpayers more than $1 million.
Altiere stressed his department did not order any cleaning supplies.
In a three-page affidavit on file in common pleas court, Delmont says he gave $50,000 to elected officials, as well as sporting-event tickets, electronics equipment and other gifts. He also contended that all his actions were at the specific direction of the commissioners and/or the sheriff.
During the period in question, Altiere was sheriff, and O'Brien, Tsagaris and Angelo were commissioners. The commissioners and Altiere have denied the allegations.
sinkovich@vindy.com