2 men plead guilty to bribery charges

A former maintenance man was paid $3,000 for steering a contract to a truck dealer.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Two area men have pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges in federal court in Cleveland in the purchase of equipment by the Warren City Schools.
Jeffrey Buccella, 50, of Burkey Road, Austintown, and Ralph W. Palmer Jr., 61, of Bowman Street, Niles, will be sentenced Aug. 28 by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster.
Buccella pleaded guilty this week to knowingly and corruptly accepting money from Palmer in the purchase of two trucks for the district in 2001.
Palmer pleaded guilty to giving something of value to Buccella in connection with the truck purchase, which involved federal funds.
Buccella was the maintenance supervisor from 1999 to 2002 with Community Bus Service, which administers the school district's bus fleet. Palmer managed 3 Star Truck Service in Niles.
Plea deal
According to the plea agreement by the two, Buccella approached Palmer in April 2001 to discuss the district wanting to purchase two trucks.
Palmer located two trucks owned by another dealer that met Buccella's criteria. On April 30, 2001, based on this information, Buccella prepared a purchase order for the trucks from 3 Star Truck Service, according to the document.
In May, Palmer entered into an agreement with the school district to sell the trucks to the district for $33,000. He had paid $20,000 for them.
The document said that Palmer wrote a $3,000 check to Buccella "as a reward to thank Buccella for his assistance in obtaining the contract" for 3 Star Truck Service.
Later, Buccella deposited $2,800 into his checking account, the document adds.