Fed prosecutor wants Traficant’s pension tapped to pay debt

Fed prosecutor wants Traficant’s pension tapped to pay debt

YOUNGSTOWN — A federal prosecutor wants to tap into James A. Traficant Jr.’s state pension to satisfy what the imprisoned ex-congressman still owes in a court fine, but the state argues the pension is exempt.

Traficant, 66, was convicted of racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion in 2002 and is serving an eight-year prison term at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn. The Poland man’s projected release is Sept. 2, 2009. He still owes $105,059 of the $150,000 fine imposed at sentencing.

Richard J. French, an assistant U.S. attorney, filed an application last month in federal court in Cleveland to obtain money from the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System.

An attorney from Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann’s office has filed a response, claiming the funds are exempt from garnishment.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells. Traficant, who once represented the 17th Congressional District, also earned a state pension based from his years as Mahoning County sheriff.