K&D Group construction manager gets 2 years in prison for bribing Cleveland building inspectors

Posted by pkrouse [at] plaind [dot] com September 01, 2009 16:05PM

Categories: Breaking News, Crime, Real Time News

Henry Picozzi

Related content

• Bribed housing inspectors had neglected Mount Pleasant ward, Cleveland Councilman Zack Reed says
   
• Cleveland police unit to aid probe of inspectors
   
• Richard Huberty, former Cleveland building inspector, sentenced to 3 years in prison
   
• Cleveland building inspector James McCullough pleads guilty to extortion
   
• More building inspectors charged in federal investigation
   
• Three Cleveland building inspectors charged with extortion
   
• Flats condo builder Henry Picozzi of K&D Group pleads guilty to bribing Cleveland inspectors
   
• Cleveland building inspector charged with taking bribes

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Henry "Hank" Picozzi, a construction manager at K&D Group, faced up to three years in prison when he pleaded guilty in March to bribing two Cleveland building inspectors.

But thanks, in part, to compelling personal circumstances and a willingness to cooperate with the government in its ongoing probe of public corruption, Picozzi received a two-year sentence Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Kate O'Malley.

It was still more time than Picozzi, 43, and his supporters packing O'Malley's courtroom were hoping he would receive. O'Malley said the number of letters sent to her supporting Picozzi was "just about the greatest number" she had ever received for a defendant.

But prosecutors pressed for a tough sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roberts read aloud a secretly taped comment made by Picozzi in discussing a bribe.

"That's how it's done," Roberts quoted Picozzi as saying. "That's how I've done it my whole life."

Picozzi's lawyer Richard Blake cited the corrupt environment his client worked within, but O'Malley said the system will never change unless someone refuses to participate or the law steps in.

Picozzi's sentence was in the middle of the federal guideline range. The judge cited the damage that occurs when somebody bribes a public official, but also considered mitigating factors. They included Picozzi's belated effort to provide assistance to the government on a separate corruption-related matter. He had not done so at the time he pleaded guilty.

Picozzi admitted paying a total of $6,000 to two Cleveland building inspectors, and treating them to meals and entertainment, in exchange for expedited approvals on the Stonebridge development along the Cuyahoga River.

One of the inspectors was Bobby Cuevas, according to Blake. Cuevas played a significant role in the corruption probe, leading the FBI to Steven Pumper, a former D-A-S Construction executive who pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple corruption-related crimes.

Pumper has been cooperating with authorities, as has Cuevas, who is hoping to have a charge of extortion dropped as a result of his assistance. Cuevas was not charged in connection with Picozzi or Pumper but in a separate incident.

Picozzi took responsibility for his actions in a brief, tearful statement to O'Malley. A sentencing memorandum filed in court stated that Picozzi was living at Stonebridge while working on the project. Many nights he would party at local clubs, drinking and using cocaine, the memorandum states.

"He saw the Stonebridge project as a personal challenge for him to complete within budget and on time," the memorandum states, "and placed significant pressure on himself to do so."

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/09/kd_group_construction_manager.html

___________________________________________

http://www.disclosureproject.com  TRUTH  -  EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL