Niles zoning official IDs files seized by investigators

NILES — The Niles zoning and building inspector says at least two of the six investigators who took records from his offices Thursday were the same ones who spent two weeks or more there in February or March.

Anthony Vigorito said six investigators on Thursday took all of the records and drawings relating to the construction of the Cafaro Co. headquarters at Eastwood Mall; the completed Residence Inn by Marriott and Hampton Inn and Suites, both at the Eastwood Mall complex; and the Italian Marketplace in the former Alberni’s Restaurant space on Youngstown-Warren Road.

A recent press release about the Marketplace’s ribbon-cutting ceremony said it is owned by Bobby and Pam Allegretto DeVicchio.

The Hampton Inn will go on the site of the former Expo Center.

Also Thursday, investigators searched the current Cafaro Co. corporate offices on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown, but the company’s spokesman, Joe Bell, said he didn’t know the reason for the search.

Investigators spent more than two weeks at the building and zoning office in February or March taking files in an apparently “random” fashion, Vigorito said.

“I just think it was because we were in fiscal emergency, so I thought they were just checking every department,” Vigorito said of the February-March investigation. The Ohio Auditor’s Office placed Niles in fiscal emergency in October 2014.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com