JJL
04-29-2004, 05:47 PM
Suffolk's corruption probe takes new twist
BY SANDRA PEDDIE AND J. JIONI PALMER
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, 10:01 PM EDT
On the heels of several high-profile arrests, the Suffolk County district attorney's corruption probe took a new twist this week as detectives subpoenaed records related to allegations that a political leader pressured town building inspectors to harass his wife's business competitors.
On Monday night, detectives szed records related to three gyms, Ultimate Fitness in Medford, Lucille Roberts in Shirley and The Firm in Southampton, from both the Southampton and Brookhaven town building departments, according to sources familiar with the subpoenas.
District Attorney Thomas Spota's office declined to comment. However, people familiar with the investigation said the subpoenas were aimed at Thomas Neppell Jr., a former Republican leader of Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town. They said the DA's office was investigating whether Neppell pressured building inspectors to harass gyms that competed with Wght Room Plus in Moriches, a gym owned by his wife, Wanda.
In September, detectives szed records from Neppell's insurance agency in Shirley. At the time, Brookhaven Town Supervisor John J. LaValle said detectives sought 10 years of records relating to Neppell's business relationship with the town.
Neppell, who resigned his party posts after the September raid, citing health reasons, denied interfering with his wife's competitors.
"I would never do something like that," he said. "Whatever interests me is anyone who was operating illegally or improperly. I don't care who operates a gym or where they operate it or how they operate it."
However, Mark DeGaspari, owner of Ultimate Fitness, said that when he expanded his business about two years ago, Neppell wanted the gym closed because he was in direct competition with Wght Room Plus. "He told guys in town that. They came down with tickets."
DeGaspari said Brookhaven fined him $15,000 for not having a certificate of occupancy or building permits. DeGaspari acknowledged not having the proper permits then.
He said that after bng fined, he went to see Neppell at Brookhaven Town Republican headquarters in Medford to try to get the fines reduced.
"He didn't have much to say, except that he went through the proper process and I should, too," DeGaspari said.
Neppell's attorney, Stephen Scaring, said Neppell "has assured me that he has not done anything improper" in regard to DeGaspari's gym. "Tom Neppell would not do something like that," Scaring said.
But DeGaspari said he felt Neppell "had the power to reduce that fine. ... I went to Republican headquarters to sit down with him. I was just hoping he would show some leniency to my position, but he didn't. It put a very sour taste in my mouth about the whole Republican Party when that went down."
DeGaspari said that after his appeal to Neppell failed, he negotiated with the Brookhaven town attorney's office, which reduced his fine to $5,000. But he said town employees later told him that wasn't high enough for Neppell.
"I was at his mercy," DeGaspari said.
A town employee confirmed yesterday that Neppell was angry when the town attorney's office reduced the fine. DeGaspari said he ended up paying a fine of $7,500.
Sources said Spota's office is investigating whether Neppell used his influence to steer contracts to his wife's gym.
This week's subpoenas followed high-profile arrests, search warrants and a guilty plea by a former Brookhaven Town official in the DA's ongoing probe into governmental and political corruption in Suffolk County.
Last week, the district attorney arrested two high-profile campaign advisers to County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, for allegedly recving a bribe to rig a county contract.
Prior to that, Theodore Rickman, a former Zoning Board of Appeals member and Brookhaven Republican Party treasurer, pleaded guilty to taking a bribe in exchange for approving a residential subdivision.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. | Article licensing and reprint options
BY SANDRA PEDDIE AND J. JIONI PALMER
Staff Writer
April 29, 2004, 10:01 PM EDT
On the heels of several high-profile arrests, the Suffolk County district attorney's corruption probe took a new twist this week as detectives subpoenaed records related to allegations that a political leader pressured town building inspectors to harass his wife's business competitors.
On Monday night, detectives szed records related to three gyms, Ultimate Fitness in Medford, Lucille Roberts in Shirley and The Firm in Southampton, from both the Southampton and Brookhaven town building departments, according to sources familiar with the subpoenas.
District Attorney Thomas Spota's office declined to comment. However, people familiar with the investigation said the subpoenas were aimed at Thomas Neppell Jr., a former Republican leader of Suffolk County and Brookhaven Town. They said the DA's office was investigating whether Neppell pressured building inspectors to harass gyms that competed with Wght Room Plus in Moriches, a gym owned by his wife, Wanda.
In September, detectives szed records from Neppell's insurance agency in Shirley. At the time, Brookhaven Town Supervisor John J. LaValle said detectives sought 10 years of records relating to Neppell's business relationship with the town.
Neppell, who resigned his party posts after the September raid, citing health reasons, denied interfering with his wife's competitors.
"I would never do something like that," he said. "Whatever interests me is anyone who was operating illegally or improperly. I don't care who operates a gym or where they operate it or how they operate it."
However, Mark DeGaspari, owner of Ultimate Fitness, said that when he expanded his business about two years ago, Neppell wanted the gym closed because he was in direct competition with Wght Room Plus. "He told guys in town that. They came down with tickets."
DeGaspari said Brookhaven fined him $15,000 for not having a certificate of occupancy or building permits. DeGaspari acknowledged not having the proper permits then.
He said that after bng fined, he went to see Neppell at Brookhaven Town Republican headquarters in Medford to try to get the fines reduced.
"He didn't have much to say, except that he went through the proper process and I should, too," DeGaspari said.
Neppell's attorney, Stephen Scaring, said Neppell "has assured me that he has not done anything improper" in regard to DeGaspari's gym. "Tom Neppell would not do something like that," Scaring said.
But DeGaspari said he felt Neppell "had the power to reduce that fine. ... I went to Republican headquarters to sit down with him. I was just hoping he would show some leniency to my position, but he didn't. It put a very sour taste in my mouth about the whole Republican Party when that went down."
DeGaspari said that after his appeal to Neppell failed, he negotiated with the Brookhaven town attorney's office, which reduced his fine to $5,000. But he said town employees later told him that wasn't high enough for Neppell.
"I was at his mercy," DeGaspari said.
A town employee confirmed yesterday that Neppell was angry when the town attorney's office reduced the fine. DeGaspari said he ended up paying a fine of $7,500.
Sources said Spota's office is investigating whether Neppell used his influence to steer contracts to his wife's gym.
This week's subpoenas followed high-profile arrests, search warrants and a guilty plea by a former Brookhaven Town official in the DA's ongoing probe into governmental and political corruption in Suffolk County.
Last week, the district attorney arrested two high-profile campaign advisers to County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, for allegedly recving a bribe to rig a county contract.
Prior to that, Theodore Rickman, a former Zoning Board of Appeals member and Brookhaven Republican Party treasurer, pleaded guilty to taking a bribe in exchange for approving a residential subdivision.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc. | Article licensing and reprint options