ReadyAir case warrants an independent probe

Robert Moosally of New Castle, Pa., formerly of Youngstown, was convicted of defrauding the former Union Savings & amp; Trust Co. of Warren of more than $1.2 million in 1985 and served 29 months in prison. Yet, that record was not enough to prevent Moosally from getting a $200,000 low-interest loan from Trumbull County government in August 2005 -- two months after he had secured $400,000 in loans from Sky Bank and the Small Business Administration.
He borrowed the money so a company he owns, ReadyAir, could upgrade its operations at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport as an aircraft fuel and service provider. ReadyAir is one of two fuel handlers and service providers at the airport. The other is Winner Aviation.
But on March 17, ReadyAir filed for bankruptcy. In its filing, the company claimed to have assets of $0 to $50,000 and liabilities of $1,138,070.
Thus the question: What happened to the $600,000 the company received in loans?
ReadyAir has failed to make four of five loan payments to Trumbull County's Revolving Loan Fund since making its first payment in November 2005. It also owes the Western Reserve Port Authority, which governs the airport, $38,401.
Thus another question: How is it that someone with Moosally's business history could get public funds for a company that had no record of success at the airport?
Puzzling
What makes this case even more puzzling is that the owner of ReadyAir was not fully vetted when he was given a contract by the port authority to operate in Hangar 2.
According to Steve Bowser, director of aviation, the authority wanted to have an additional fuel handler at the airport and so the agreement with ReadyAir was pursued. It was only just before the signing of contracts that airport officials learned of Moosally's background, Bowser contends.
And here's the kicker: The director of aviation admitted to a Vindicator reporter that plans had progressed to a point where it would have been difficult to turn back.
Why difficult? Was Moosally not required to submit a business plan for his proposed airport operation? Was he not required to provide information about his personal finances, seeing as how he would be operating in a publicly owned facility? Was there no one on the port authority at the time who recognized the name and advised caution, or at least suggested a thorough vetting of his finances?
The only reason the situation regarding ReadyAir became public is because Moosally filed a complaint with Federal Aviation Administration in which he alleged that Winner Aviation was receiving preferential treatment from the port authority. The FAA has rejected the complaint.
But in light of the numerous recent revelations, an independent investigation is warranted. Taxpayers have a right to know how it was that Moosally showed up at the airport in the first place.