Feds want Traficant state pension to pay fine

YOUNGSTOWN — A federal prosecutor wants to tap into James A. Traficant Jr.’s state pension to satisfy what the imprisoned ex-congressman still owes on 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. His projected release is Sept. 2, 2009.

He still owes $105,059 of the $150,000 fine imposed at sentencing, the government said. The fine is the cost of his incarceration, $1,848 per month, with a $150,000 cap.

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

For more, see Thursday’s Vindicator and vindy.com