Warren auditor indicted for mailing powder substance to former employer

CLEVELAND

Warren’s new auditor, Anthony J. Natale, 37, of Genessee Avenue Northeast, remains on the job today even though he is under a federal grand jury indictment for one count of conveying false information related to the use of a weapon of mass destruction.

Natale is accused of sending an envelope containing white powder to his former employer, American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., Boardman, Nov. 10, 2014, after being terminated from the job. The powder fell out of the envelope onto an employee, causing panic that the powder might be a toxin, such as anthrax, and leading to an evacuation.

Natale was arrested this morning.

Warren Law Director Greg Hicks said he expects to be called upon to research whether the indictment will affect Natale’s ability to remain as city auditor, but he has not done so yet.

At this point, he said, he can only point to what occurred after Youngstown Mayor John McNally was indicted in the Oakhill Renaissance Place corruption case.

McNally remained in office because the crimes he was accused of committing involved his previous job as county commissioner, not his position as mayor, Hicks said.

Carole S. Rendon, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, in announcing the charges, said: “This defendant scared employees at his former workplace who opened an envelope containing white powder that they thought was a toxin.”

“He caused panic, fire, police and HazMat units were forced to respond, and his former employer was forced to close their operations for more than two days. Mr. Natale will be held accountable for his actions.”

Read more about the case in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.