Prosecutor is satisfied by outcome

The assistant prosecutor said much of the stolen money is being paid back in fines.
WARREN -- Chris Becker, Trumbull County assistant prosecutor, said he believes the investigation into the money stolen through the purchasing practices of the Trumbull County maintenance department has succeeded "in terms of recouping the loss of public money."
"I think the individuals, particularly vendors and employees, have been ferreted out and prosecuted and convicted for various offenses, so we're satisfied with the sentence and where the investigation has gone to this point," Becker said after central figure Tony Delmont was sentenced Friday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Becker said the investigation turned up about $400,000 worth of theft of county money, and fines from various individuals have recouped about $300,000 of it so far, with more due to come in.
"We confirmed through our investigation that we believe Mr. Delmont had taken and benefited personally at least $60,000," Becker said.
Restitution
Defendant Barry Jacobson agreed to give $200,000 back to Trumbull County and has made most of those payments, Becker said. Defendant Barry Bonchak agreed to pay $27,000 in restitution and has paid most of that. Defendant Daniel A. Donofrio III agreed to pay back $12,000 in restitution.
Becker said the prosecutor's office had agreed to a plea agreement with Delmont earlier that would have him serving from one to three years in prison and paying a $50,000 fine. In the end, Delmont got a three-year sentence and a $60,000 fine.
"Obviously, I think the three-year sentence speaks to where his cooperation was," Becker said, adding that the additional $10,000 in fine money also "speaks for the level of cooperation" prosecutors got from Delmont.
Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Kontos said he will sign an order indicating that Delmont's fine can be taken from funds in his Public Employees Retirement System account.
With regard to the part of the investigation being handled by Special Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci of Portage County -- questions of whether any public officials will be indicted in the case, Becker said he will not speak for Vigluicci.
"That is a case he is handling," Becker said. "I imagine at the appropriate time, Attorney Vigluicci will have a statement to make, and I'm sure [Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis] Watkins will be there in terms of whether anyone else will be indicted pursuant to this investigation.
"I am certain [Vigluicci] is waiting for us to conclude our two pending cases and the pending cooperation that can be garnered from those two pending cases. I am sure he'll take advantage of that," Becker said.
Becker added that the purchasing probe is "not over" in the sense that there are still cases to be tried against defendants Terry and Linda Maiorana and Dennis Pirko.