Warren auditor Natale to plead guilty to federal charge

YOUNGSTOWN

Warren Auditor Anthony J. Natale has filed a notice of his intent to plead guilty as charged in federal court to conveying false information related to the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

The written notice of intent to withdraw Natale’s earlier innocent plea and for him to plead guilty was filed Wednesday by Natale’s lawyer, J. Gerald Ingram.

A pre-trial hearing is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday before U.S. District Court Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown.

The case had been set for a July 11 jury trial.

Judge Pearson had earlier granted Natale’s request to have federal probation officers investigate his background and the seriousness of the offense he’s accused of committing against a former employer in advance of a possible plea agreement.

Natale, who took office Jan. 1, was indicted on the charge March 30 by a federal grand jury.

He’s accused of sending an envelope containing white powder to his former employer, American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., Boardman, on Nov. 10, 2014, after being terminated from the job.

The powder fell out of the envelope onto an employee, causing fear the powder might be a toxin, such as anthrax, and leading to an evacuation.

Judge Pearson approved Natale’s request to have probation officials list any criminal history Natale may have and determine his “offense level and guideline sentencing range.”

Knowing roughly what sentence probation officials would recommend “would greatly aid [Natale] in determining whether he is able to resolve [his criminal charge] by way of a plea,” Ingram wrote in a motion filed with the court April 19.