Efrain Gonzalez
Posted on 12/19/2006 1:08:45 AM PST by neverdem
Wearing a smart black suit with pink pumps and a matching handbag, Lucia Sanchez had an eye for fashion yesterday - but not for her co-defendant boyfriend, Bronx state Sen. Efrain Gonzalez Jr.
The indicted twosome pleaded not guilty yesterday to federal mail and wire-fraud charges, but didn't acknowledge each other during a brief appearance in Manhattan Federal Court.
They arrived separately and sat a row apart as they waited their turn at the defense table.
But federal prosecutors say the two worked closely together for more than seven years to loot a Bronx charity out of more than $400,000 in taxpayer money.
The feds say the married Democratic lawmaker - who sported a dark suit, a striped tie and a bemused look - steered $425,000 in so-called pork-barrel funds to a Bronx charity for hard-luck kids called Pathways for Youth and then had the group's executive director funnel the money to the West Bronx Neighborhood Association, a charity controlled by Sanchez, 50.
The association was supposed to be promoting government efficiency, but instead, prosecutors say, it functioned as Gonzalez's personal piggy bank, with Sanchez writing the checks. Some $50,000 went to pay rent on a luxury apartment in the Dominican Republic for Gonzalez's wife. Another $9,000 was spent for labels on cigars produced at Gonzalez's Dominican factory.
Judge William Pauley increased Gonzalez's bail to $100,000. Gonzalez, 58, had previously been out on a $25,000 bond after his indictment on an earlier fraud charge. He remains free on the higher bail.
Also pleading not guilty yesterday were Pathways Executive Director Neil Berger and Miguel Castanos, the director of a Bronx charity called the United Latin American Foundation. Authorities say Castanos received a $152,000 consulting contract to work with Pathways but did little work for the money.
That's the good thing about prison fashion-you never have to worry about being out of style.
No mention of the Senator's party. What a surprise.
Lucia Sanchez isn't even hot. If I'm going to steal money and have a girlfriend, she'll have to be hot. Perhaps he didn't steal enough money to attract the hot gals. What a waste. /s
I have an evisceral contempt for people who steal from charities, especially ones set up to help children. They are not too far above child abusers in my book.
These people they haul into court, and Err America gets off scott free?
Bump just for that headline alone. Priceless!!!!! The NY press does this the best!
Tucked quietly away in the fifth paragraph. Blink and you'll miss it!
I wonder why all of his interest in the Dominican Republic, why some other Puerto Ricans engage in terrorism to seek independence?
Scroll down to the bit entitled PUERTO RICAN OFFICIALS TAKE ON PRESIDENT CLINTON.
Scrolling down takes a lot of time because you have to read it. You can get there more quickly by clicking on the edit function of the Microsoft Internet Explorer toolbar. Then click on Find (on This Page)...Ctrl+F.
Then you can just enter from your keyboard officials take on, (lower case is accepted) and click on Find Next.
You get PUERTO RICAN OFFICIALS TAKE ON PRESIDENT CLINTON immediately without scrolling.
Starting in the third paragraph you find:
My sources, who were a part of the until now closed group that met from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, assured me that all those present agreed that none of them would support Hillary Rodham Clinton, if she decides torun for the senate seat vacated by Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the year 2000, is she does not commit herself to the liberation of these compatriots.
"This (agreement) is not limited to Hillary", argured one of my spokespeople, who added that "We will not support any Democratic candidate that does not have the release of the 15 Puerto Ricans as part of their political agenda." That is to say, that the First Lady would be informed of this decision so that she can take this into account as part of her considerations in trying to determine whether she will run.
If the United States doesn't need Puerto Rico as a military base any more, as we gave up the Panama Canal and can't use Puerto Rico for live-fire military exercises, why don't we just grant them independence, shut down a source of terrorism, close the open border with the Dominican Republic, and eliminate a source of leftist headaches without mentioning other problems?
British Lord Stings Senators Rockefeller and Snowe: 'Uphold Free Speech or Resign' (for trying to stifle the global warming debate)
Public misinformed about stem cell issue We lost the Senate in part because Senator Talent lost in Missouri partly on this debate. The morality of this debate has not been a sufficient argument. IMHO, it behooves all of us to be able to discuss the biology of stem cells when our opponents are usually as dumb as rocks. The second link in comment# 1 on that thread, "National Institutes of Health - Stem Cell Information - Executive Summary," has a fairly comprehensive primer.
From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Don't know if you are in neverdem's list but I thought you would appreciate this.
Jesus Galvis, a licensed travel agent is a notary public, who "provides" immigration papers, visas, and translations to Latinos.
In the late 1980's, Mr Galvis held two government jobs but was summarily dismissed as Treasurer at a Community College for improprieties with government scholarship money. Galvis wasn't charged, just dumped.
He is still a government employee----with the County Hispanic Committee. He is also a former elected councilman.
In 1998, Jesus Galvis, an elected official in Hackensack, NJ, ran a campaign for a senate seat in the Central America nation of Columbia. Galvis planned to hold both offices at the same time.
Mr. Galvis was asked in a newspaper interview whether he could represent his Hackensack constituents while splitting his time in Colombia. He said he would have been like a US Congressman with an office in his district and one in Washington. In each place, he said, "I would be representing Colombians in the United States."
SOURCE: www.globalpolicy.org/nations/citizen/multiple.htm
Puerto Rico cannot become a state. The Fed has its headquarters there and if Puerto Rico became a state, they would be required to pay taxes.
Why couldn't they become a state, but for the fact that they don't want to?
The Fed has its headquarters there and if Puerto Rico became a state, they would be required to pay taxes.
"The Fed," as in the Federal Reserve System, what do you mean? Yes, I understand that statehood would require federal income taxes, but how does the U.S. benefit from the current commonwealth, territory status?
If they don't want to be a state, why shouldn't we cut them loose? Look at all the money we would save on payments for social services, welfare, illegal aliens, Social Security, Medicare, etc.
Thanks for the ping. Another link with pictures here...http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/480036p-403826c.html
Efrain Gonzalez
Lucia Sanchez
Thanks for the link!
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