|
|
4.4.2001 00:10
Voccola arraigned, jailed
as a 'danger to witnesses'
 The
convicted felon and former auto-body shop owner will remain behind bars pending
his trial on federal corruption charges.
BY W. ZACHARY MALINOWSKI
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE — Edward E. Voccola's world seemed
far removed from Providence City Hall.
A convicted felon, Voccola ran a Federal Hill auto-body shop that was a hangout
for mobsters. He beat up insurance adjusters and threatened anyone who got under
his skin. Once an animal tongue and a dozen roses spray-painted black were delivered
to an insurance investigator in a federal case against him.
The apparently disparate worlds collided yesterday as Voccola, 72, shuffled into
federal court in leg shackles and handcuffs to face federal corruption charges
stemming from the latest round of Operation Plunder Dome indictments.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lovegreen, expressing concern about Voccola's
history of alleged witness intimidation, ordered him jailed until he stands trial.
"I think there's evidence here that Mr. Voccola is a danger to witnesses," Lovegreen
said.
At one point, Asst. U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose said that Voccola told a witness
in 1995 that he would get him a city job if he agreed to lie to a federal grand
jury.
Rose never explained how Voccola had the power to get someone a city job. But
the indictment unsealed on Monday charges that the retired auto-body shop owner
had plenty of influence in City Hall.
The indictment alleged that Voccola paid kickbacks to get the city to lease property
he owned in the city to the School Department. The arrangement netted him $2.2
million over 10 years.
The federal grand jury charged Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., Frank E. Corrente,
his former chief of administration, and Voccola with racketeering stemming from
their alleged misdeeds in one of the deals.
Voccola is accused of paying Cianci and Corrente bribes for the lease.
Voccola converted checks from his real estate company, Jere Realty, into cash
to make the payments, the grand jury alleged.
Yesterday, Voccola's lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the charges on her client's
behalf.
The hearing in U.S District Court did not begin until late afternoon. About a
dozen members of Voccola's family filed into the courtroom to see him brought
in from the Donald W. Wyatt Federal Detention Center, where he had spent the night.
Patricia Forte, Voccola's daughter, plopped a Ziploc bag bulging with several
bottles of pills on the table where her father was to sit.
Minutes later, Voccola, escorted by an FBI agent and a federal marshal, shuffled
into the courtroom. W. Dennis Aiken, the FBI agent who has spearheaded the Plunder
Dome probe, walked over to the seated defendant.
"How're you doin?" Aiken said.
Voccola responded with an inaudible grunt.
Aiken handed Voccola a restraining order informing him that the court had frozen
his assets, which includes nearly $1.4 million and several pieces of real estate.
During the hearing, Rose, the federal prosecutor, said that based on Voccola's
age and the seriousness of the charges, he should remain in jail to ensure that
he would not flee.
Rose also said that Voccola has a history of intimidating witnesses and thumbing
his nose at the court. He was alluding to his 1996 conviction on racketeering
charges for defrauding 12 insurance companies by staging bogus car crashes.
Voccola, who was sentenced to 33 months in prison, had refused to pay off much
of his fines and restitution totaling more than $190,000. A judge determined that
Voccola owned property valued at about $1.5 million and ordered him found in contempt.
She added two months to his prison sentence. He quickly paid off the penalties.
Rose said that during the federal fraud probe, the name of an insurance investigator
became public in court documents. Once Voccola was indicted, Rose said that a
dozen roses, spray-painted black, and an animal tongue ended up outside her front
door.
He also said that the investigator received repeated messages on her pager, with
the return numbers of various funeral homes.
Further, Rose alleged that Voccola, through his daughter, Patricia Forte, helped
them support Roger Cavaca, a former manager of Voccola's auto-body shop, who fled
after he was indicted with Voccola for insurance fraud.
Cavaca, who has since returned to Rhode Island, is cooperating with the authorities
in the corruption case against Voccola. Rose said that Voccola presents a "real
danger" to the witness.
In a preemptive strike, Rose acknowledged that Voccola suffers from medical problems,
but said they are not as severe as his lawyer would probably indicate.
On Monday, Rose said that FBI agents had Voccola under surveillance at his home
in Cranston. He said that Voccola left his house about 7 a.m. and drove to a Dunkin'
Donuts. Then, he said, he drove to Providence and spent time at his real estate
firm. He returned home to Cranston and did yard work. Around noon, he was back
in Providence to have lunch.
Rose said that Voccola drove back to Cranston about 3 p.m. Two hours later, the
indictment was unsealed and he was arrested.
Emili Vaziri, Voccola's lawyer, did not try to dispute Rose's roadmap of her client's
whereabouts.
"He does have some ill health," she said. "He's not an invalid."
She said that Voccola suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and he has a
heart condition. She also said that he has been diagnosed as legally blind.
That prompted Judge Lovegreen to interject: "I certainly wouldn't want to ride
with him."
Laughter filled the courtroom.
Vaziri emphasized that Voccola had never been convicted of any crimes stemming
from the alleged threats that Rose had linked to him. She urged the court to set
bail or have Voccola placed on home confinement.
It appeared for a few minutes that Lovegreen might grant her request.
Rose introduced one last piece of evidence. He said that the daughter of Cavaca,
Voccola's former worker turned government witness, had received a "threatening
letter from an unknown source" about her father's cooperation.
That seemed to seal it. Lovegreen ordered Voccola held without bail and barred
him from having "direct or indirect" contact with Cavaca.
|
|
|
