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Thu. 1:32 p.m.: Infante jurors shown lots of numbers, paperwork

Tribune Chronicle

WARREN – Jurors in the Ralph Infante corruption trial this morning were presented with numbers and contracts as an accountant, a scrap metal dealer and two former city officials took the stand as prosecutors tried to lay a foundation for the 41 felony charges against the former mayor of Niles.

Former Law Director J. Terrence Dull testified he drafted legislation in 2012 to advertise of bids for printing of city utility bills, however, Dull said he wasn’t asked to draft legislation when the city entered into a contract with Pegasis Printing for the job.

Under cross examination, Dull said he attended council meetings in which the printing of utility bills had been discussed. Prosecutors have said the contract was unfairly awarded to Pegasus because a minority owner of the company is a friend of Infante’s.

Infante, 63, who was Niles mayor from 1992 to the end of 2015, has pleaded not guilty to 41 criminal counts alleging engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, numerous counts of bribery and tampering with records and fewer counts of gambling, falsification and theft.

State testimony was continuing this afternoon in the fourth day of the trial.

Also testifying this morning was former Niles Parks Director Carmen Vivolo who told Assistant Ohio Attorney General Daniel Kasaris that it took “less than a minute” for Infante to agree when he asked to retire from his longtime position and be rehired at the beginning of 2013. Vivolo, who retired last year after more than four decades in the position, said the retire / rehire agreement included he be paid $20,000 less which would pay for his health insurance.

Dull testified he wasn’t consulted on the Vivolo contract, but did some work on the retire / rehire for former city Health Director Michael Burke.

Also testifying was April Strickland, forensic audit manager for the Ohio Auditor’s Office, who had investigated Judy and Ralph Infante’s bank deposits that were subpoenaed from July 2007 through July 2014. Strickland pointed out the “unaccounted for cash” deposit slips which amounted more than $100,000. However under cross examination, Strickland told defense attorney John Juhasz that the unaccounted cash deposits were not illegal.

Scrap dealer Benjamin Sunderlin, manager of Metallaco of Warren, identified paperwork of money the city’s utility department received from the company for bringing in “pipes and cast iron stuff.” Infante is also accused of allowing some city employees to keep cash received from selling scrap items owned by the city.

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