Mahoning County’s treasurer should seek special state audit

Daniel Yemma was sworn in last week as Mahoning County treasurer against the backdrop of his predecessor Lisa Antonini’s guilty plea in federal court to accepting money from a local businessman in exchange for supporting the individual’s interests.

Given the myriad questions the guilty plea has evoked regarding Antonini’s conduct as the county’s chief financial officer, it would be to Yemma’s advantage to seek a special audit of the office by the auditor of state.

Antonini resigned abruptly last month as federal prosecutors filed a bill of information that charged her with one count of honest-services mail fraud. On June 3, she pleaded guilty to the charge and agreed to fully cooperate with any federal, state or local investigation in return for prosecutors recommending maximum favorable consideration in her sentencing.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Cleveland obviously believes she has information that is pertinent to federal and state governments’ investigations of government corruption in the Mahoning Valley. She was charged with taking a $3,000 cash contribution to her primary campaign for treasurer Jan. 16, 2008, from a local businessman, while reporting only a $200 contribution he gave by check on that day.

A review of her campaign finance reports for that election shows the only $200 check came from Anthony M. Cafaro Sr., former president of the Cafaro Co. of Youngstown.

Federal prosecutors say that in exchange for the money, Antonini “continued to support the businessman’s interests and understood she would take official action on his behalf if opportunities arose.”

The words “take official action on his behalf” are the red flags that Yemma, who was overwhelmingly selected by the county Democratic precinct committeemen and women on June 6, should be concerned about. Absent a clear explanation from the federal prosecutors, the words suggest that she used her public position for personal gain — at the behest of a very influential individual.

Tax collections

Given that the treasurer’s office deals with millions of public dollars daily and also is responsible for tax collections, an independent review of the activities during Antonini’s tenure is justified.

Yemma, who was appointed deputy treasurer by her four years ago, sought to distance himself from the so-called Oakhill Renaissance Place controversy during his speech to the Democratic Party committee members.

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

Two others, Atty. Martin Yavorcik and Flora Cafaro, part-owner of the Cafaro Co. and sister of Anthony Cafaro, are charged with a single count of money laundering.

The trial in common pleas court is set for August.

Overlapping the state case is the revelation by state prosecutors that the federal government has thousands of hours of recordings of conversations involving some of the defendants in the Oakhill matter. It means there are parallel approaches to the government corruption investigations, which could come together at some point.

During his speech to the Democratic Party leaders, Yemma was forceful in his insistence that he is not involved in what’s going on with Oakhill.

“I am not associated with Oakhill in any way, shape or form, or any related matters,” he said.

But because Yemma served as Antonini’s deputy, an independent review of the treasurer’s office is warranted. Mahoning County residents must be assured that there aren’t ticking time bombs as a result of the former treasurer’s conduct.

Clean slate

Yemma should welcome a special audit because he needs to start his tenure with a clean slate. With two former treasurers, Antonini and Reardon, and other current and former county officials in trouble with the law, there’s a dark cloud hanging over government.

To be sure, Yemma was the most qualified of the three applicants for the Democratic Party’s appointment. He worked in banking for 18 years, served as a councilman from Struthers and was interim treasurer after Antonini left. But the spotlight will continue to be on the office so long as federal prosecutors remain silent about how his predecessor took care of the businessman.

Yemma should ask the U.S. attorney’s office to expedite the release of any and all information pertaining to the Mahoning County Treasurer’s Office.