The City of Batavia has begun a disciplinary proceeding against a pair of city firefighters who stand accused of participating in an illegal bookmaking operation and are charged with felonies under New York's racketeering law.
Gregory Phillips and Brian Bordinaro have been suspended without pay, according to City Manager Jason Molino.
Under civil service law, Phillips and Bordinaro are entitled to a disciplinary hearing within 30 days of being suspected without pay.
Bordinaro was suspended without pay on April 27, and Phillips on May 2.
The hearing officer will determine what sort of disciplinary action -- if any -- should be taken against the two men. Options range from fines to termination if the officer finds the firefighters guilty of misconduct.
Bordinaro was within two years of retirement at the time of his suspension, and Phillips was about three years out.
City officials declined to release the actual disciplinary documents. City Clerk Heidi Parker, who is the freedom of information officer for the city, cited the "fair trial" provision the Freedom of Information Law because the documents may contain information gathered by law enforcement that has not been released to the public.
When originally arrested in February, following a months-long investigation by detectives with the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, Phillips and Bordinaro were charged with criminal possession of gambling records. Phillips was also accused of possessing a small amount of cocaine.
In April, the men were also charged with enterprise corruption. The provision is a Class B felony that serves as New York's anti-racketeering law. The charge carries a maximum possible prison term of eight-and-a-third to 25 years.
Arrested and charged with Phllips and Bordonaro was Lance Engel, a cook at the NYS vet's home in Batavia. No information has been obtained on his employment status.
There are no scheduled court appearances for the three men until October and District Attorney Lawrence Friedman has yet to say whether his office will seek grand jury indictments or proceed in another manner with the case.
At their last court appearance, the attorneys for the three men were all given inches-thick documents containing alleged evidence of their gambling operation.
According to investigators, the operation handled more than $1 million in bets in a single year and generated about $70,000 in profits off the vig.
"The Vig" Howard, look at you
"The Vig" Howard, look at you talking like Sam Rothstein over there.
It's a great term -- love
It's a great term -- love Boardwalk Empire -- but hey, that's what everybody calls it in this context.
Isn't it Arnold Rothstein?
Isn't it Arnold Rothstein?
Sam Rothstein was Robert De
Sam Rothstein was Robert De Niro's character in "Casino"
Arnold Rothstein is in Boardwalk Empire, (and an actual historical person) which I like as well, just started watching it via Netflix. Only seen 2 episodes so far. Well done at this point.
Martin Scorsese directed both Casino and the first episode of Boardwalk Empire FWIW
Maybe "Sam" was his street
Maybe "Sam" was his street name after all if ya see the way I typed it after this comment it has a little more panache
LOL..... Arnold "Sam" Rothstein
There's a surprising amount
There's a surprising amount of historical accuracy to Boardwalk Empire.
It's also a great take on how World War I greatly disrupted society and changed much about Western culture. Downton Abbey is another take on the same disruption -- two bookends on the same era.
The Best of Arnold Rothstein:
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Gzu3nJhZk]
I read Lucky Luciano's
I read Lucky Luciano's autobiography many many years ago. It was cool. If you can believe everything he wrote (Personally, I think he embellished a bit) at least his part of Boardwalk Empire so far is in line with his recollection.
39 and 43 yrs. old and within
39 and 43 yrs. old and within a few years of eligible retirement. You wonder why are taxes are so freakin high.