Posted on 04/14/2006 3:12:56 PM PDT by jmaroneps37
Felony charge is dropped for former parks worker, but criminal case still stands for another
A felony grand-larceny charge against former Nassau parks clerk Robert Cataldo - who'd claimed to be working in the county while vacationing in Italy - was dropped by District Attorney Denis Dillon after the veteran prosecutor lost his bid for re-election.
Cataldo instead pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a non-criminal violation, paid a $250 fine, and was given a conditional discharge in December, according to Assistant District Attorney Marshall Trager, who handled the case.
But, Trager said this week, the criminal case against another former Nassau clerk, Shomwa Shamapande - accused of bilking taxpayers out of $12,000 by submitting false time sheets - is being "aggressively pursued" under Dillon's successor, Kathleen Rice.
"There is no plea being offered to Mr. Shamapande," he said.
He noted, though, that the felony charge related to only a single time sheet and that Cataldo had no prior criminal record.
Before the charge was filed, the former clerk had reimbursed the county for the approximate $1,400 in pay he received improperly, Trager said.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Trager, [the ADA in charge] said he could not offer specific reasons the Cataldo charge was downgraded.
Cataldo was an aide to City Council member Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) before his employment by the [ Thomas Suozzi] [ Nassau County] administration.
Par for the course with the phony rat, let me guess, Mr. Cataldo is White and Mr.Shamapande is not. Now why would I guess that?
Don't know if you live in Nassau County but I do. If you don't, here's some advice: you had better educate yourself before you address an issue. Rice had been a Asst US Attorney in Philadelphia PA for the previous 5 years and had never run for political office so you might want to reconsider throwing around "politically connected" allegations. Anyone familiar with local politics knows that, for the most part, District Attorney can tend to be more apolitical than other elected officials. Now, before your start in abour Ronnie Earle in Tx., I don't disagree. He's a hack. But, Rice took office in January, 2006. This plea you disparage was offered and taken prior to that. Now, if you're not familiar with Nassau County, NY, the previous DA had been in office for 31 years and had never made a point of going after any sort of corruption. A $10,000,00.00 plus theft from a local school district meritied a 2-6 year plea deal with the ringleader and it was this deal, among other factors, that led to his defeat.
Bad proofing. Make sure you read that figure as TEN MILLION.
"Rice had been a Asst US Attorney in Philadelphia PA for the previous 5 years and had never run for political office so you might want to reconsider throwing around "politically connected" allegations"
This is foolish and makes zero sense. Do you REALLY believe that the US Attorney's office is non political? Let's as Janet from another planet about that.
." Anyone familiar with local politics knows that, for the most part, District Attorney can tend to be more apolitical than other elected officials.."
Very very naive, very naive indeed! I can't get too concerned with your remarks however, because I just have a strong feeling that you are a lawyer. As such you don't live in the same world as I do. So your foolish comments mean very little to me.
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