Warren Auditor Natale released on bond after indictment

YOUNGSTOWN

A U.S. magistrate has released Warren City Auditor Anthony J. Natale on an unsecured $20,000 bond after Natale was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of conveying false information related to use of a weapon of mass destruction.

After Natale, 37, of Warren, entered his innocent plea, U.S. Magistrate George J. Limbert this afternoon also ordered Natale to have no contact with any alleged victim or potential witness in the case.

Natale entered the courtroom in handcuffs and a belly chain and wearing a horizontally-striped blue polo shirt and blue jeans.

Natale was charged with mailing an envelope containing white powder Nov. 10, 2014, to American Business Center of Boardman, which was his former employer.

Atty. Damian Billak stood in for Atty. J. Gerald Ingram as the defense lawyer because Ingram was in another court on an unrelated case.

Justin Seabury Gould, an assistant U.S. attorney, was in court as the prosecutor and did not seek to keep Natale in detention.

As conditions of his bond, Natale must not possess a firearm or leave northern Ohio, the magistrate said.