Feds should move quickly on the Antonini plea deal

Given that federal prosecutors have not identified the businessman who slipped $3,000 in cash to Lisa Antonini when she was Mahoning County treasurer in return for her doing his bidding, the entire system of government remains under a cloud. That’s because a lot of business people utilize the services of the treasurer’s office — and do so within the law.

It has been almost a month since Antonini, 41, resigned her $68,275-a-year job after the U.S. attorney filed an information in federal court charging her with one count of honest services mail fraud.

The former chairwoman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party pleaded guilty June 3 in a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Sara Lioi. In a deal worked out with the prosecutors, she will receive a reduced sentence if she fully cooperates with any federal, state and local investigations and prosecutions.

Considering the speculation that surrounds this case, we urge the U.S. attorney to move quickly to bring charges against the businessman and any other individuals who may have unduly influenced Antonini while she was county treasurer. The reason for the urgency? The federal government has already indirectly indicated who the businessman may be by the details contained in the information and the plea agreement.

In addition to the $3,000 in cash, the government says, Antonini also received a check the same day for $200, which she declared on her campaign finance reports. A review of the reports by The Vindicator revealed that the only $200 check came from Anthony M. Cafaro Sr., retired president of Youngstown-based Cafaro Co., one of the major shopping center developers in the country.

Anthony Cafaro is already facing criminal charges in state court for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, perjury, bribery and money laundering for his role in the Oak-hill Renaissance Place controversy. The other defendants are: county Commissioner John A. McNally IV; county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino; former county Treasurer John Reardon; former Job and Family Services Director John Zachariah; the Cafaro Co. and two of its affiliates.

Money laundering

Two others, Atty. Martin Yavorcik and Flora Cafaro, part-owner of the Cafaro Co., are charged with only a single count of money laundering. They are not charged with conspiracy.

The state trial in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court was scheduled to begin this month, but it has been postponed until August.

With the Antonini case looming large, we believe federal prosecutors should waste no time in aggressively pursuing whatever leads the former treasurer may provide about government corruption in the county.

“I am ashamed and embarrassed by my actions,” she said when she resigned. “I deeply regret having disappointed the people of our community who placed their trust and confidence in me. I am sincerely sorry for having let so many people down.”

The information she provides about corrupt government officials and individuals in the community willing to use their power and financial influence will go a long way toward healing the wounds that have been inflicted on the community.