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What ever happened with this investigation of Ruben Diaz Sr. and Jr. ??
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New York Daily News, Thursday, June 5th 2008
F.B.I. PROBING DIAZ DUO OVER MILLIONS
By Robert Gearty, Daily News Staff Writer
The FBI is investigating a taxpayer-funded home attendant program largely funded by a Bronx state senator and his assemblyman son, the Daily News has learned. Christian Community in Action is part of a sweeping federal probe of Sen. Ruben Diaz and Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. Sen. Diaz founded the organization and is a former administrator. His wife, Leslie, is the group's director of field operations and had a $59,056 annual salary as of April 2007. Ruben Diaz Jr. worked there as a teen. Three members of Sen. Diaz's staff are members of the group's board of directors. Last year, the nonprofit received a grand jury subpoena from the public corruption unit of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia, which was probing fraud and money laundering. A month later, the FBI served a subpoena on the Bronx office of the city Board of Elections and seized documents about the Diazes, a development first reported by The News. Sen. Diaz, a Pentecostal minister, admitted Christian Community in Action was subpoenaed but said it was "two years ago." "As far as I know, nothing happened," he said, refusing to answer questions and hanging up. His son is a candidate for Bronx borough president and part of a group of rebel lawmakers seeking to unseat Bronx Democratic Party leader Jose Rivera. Last year, Ruben Diaz Jr. spent $25,000 in campaign funds on Manhattan law firm Kobre & Kim, which often defends government targets in criminal cases. The assemblyman did not return calls for comment. The group's parent, Christian Community Benevolent Association, has received more than $1.5 million in pork barrel spending from the Diazes from 2003 to 2007. The association is not on a list of pork projects designated for funding this year. Christian Community in Action also has a $26 million contract with the city to provide home health care to 1,000 seniors. Last year, Christian Community in Action told the mayor's office it was being investigated. In a vendor questionnaire obtained by The News, the nonprofit said the investigation began in early 2007 and was "ongoing," but contended it did not know what probers were trying to find. Attached to the document was a copy of the subpoena issued by a grand jury in Manhattan Federal Court which demanded names, addresses, salaries and Social Security numbers of all current and former employes, consultants, board members, benefactors and contractors back to 1999. It also demanded all documents relating to the group's funding since 1999. A woman who answered Leslie Diaz's office phone said Diaz was on vacation. Her boss, program director Luis Alejandro, declined to comment. Three ministers on Christian Community in Action's board said they did not know about the FBI investigation. "It surprises me," said the Rev. Rafael Melendez, who is Sen. Diaz's 74-year-old half-brother. He said the board meets regularly every two months. Sen. Diaz is no stranger to scrutiny. In 2005, he repaid the state $5,000 because he'd used state and federal funds given to the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action to buy furniture for his district office and loudspeakers for his campaign. Workers at the nonprofit Soundview said former Gov. Eliot Spitzer ignored more serious allegations that Diaz forced them to give his wife and ex-wife no-show jobs.
And at the same date and time as the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade, where the NY Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a contingent. And really, is gay marriage THE defining critical issue facing the South Bronx? Not crime, education, housing, healthcare? It will be interesting to see how many Hispanic Evangelicals he can bus in from the churches on Sunday. And just where did he get all that money for the steady stream of Spanish radio ads?
I just read that the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council has joined with other unions in their support for marriage equality. But except for its own members, I don't think that many New Yorkers have ever heard of this union.
I hate to break it to you, but Ruben Diaz is NOT a famous or powerful person!
ReplyDeleteThat man is an affront to our decency.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened with this investigation of Ruben Diaz Sr. and Jr. ??
ReplyDelete___________________
New York Daily News, Thursday, June 5th 2008
F.B.I. PROBING DIAZ DUO OVER MILLIONS
By Robert Gearty, Daily News Staff Writer
The FBI is investigating a taxpayer-funded home attendant program largely funded by a Bronx state senator and his assemblyman son, the Daily News has learned.
Christian Community in Action is part of a sweeping federal probe of Sen. Ruben Diaz and Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr.
Sen. Diaz founded the organization and is a former administrator. His wife, Leslie, is the group's director of field operations and had a $59,056 annual salary as of April 2007. Ruben Diaz Jr. worked there as a teen.
Three members of Sen. Diaz's staff are members of the group's board of directors.
Last year, the nonprofit received a grand jury subpoena from the public corruption unit of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia, which was probing fraud and money laundering.
A month later, the FBI served a subpoena on the Bronx office of the city Board of Elections and seized documents about the Diazes, a development first reported by The News.
Sen. Diaz, a Pentecostal minister, admitted Christian Community in Action was subpoenaed but said it was "two years ago."
"As far as I know, nothing happened," he said, refusing to answer questions and hanging up.
His son is a candidate for Bronx borough president and part of a group of rebel lawmakers seeking to unseat Bronx Democratic Party leader Jose Rivera.
Last year, Ruben Diaz Jr. spent $25,000 in campaign funds on Manhattan law firm Kobre & Kim, which often defends government targets in criminal cases.
The assemblyman did not return calls for comment.
The group's parent, Christian Community Benevolent Association, has received more than $1.5 million in pork barrel spending from the Diazes from 2003 to 2007. The association is not on a list of pork projects designated for funding this year.
Christian Community in Action also has a $26 million contract with the city to provide home health care to 1,000 seniors.
Last year, Christian Community in Action told the mayor's office it was being investigated.
In a vendor questionnaire obtained by The News, the nonprofit said the investigation began in early 2007 and was "ongoing," but contended it did not know what probers were trying to find.
Attached to the document was a copy of the subpoena issued by a grand jury in Manhattan Federal Court which demanded names, addresses, salaries and Social Security numbers of all current and former employes, consultants, board members, benefactors and contractors back to 1999. It also demanded all documents relating to the group's funding since 1999.
A woman who answered Leslie Diaz's office phone said Diaz was on vacation. Her boss, program director Luis Alejandro, declined to comment.
Three ministers on Christian Community in Action's board said they did not know about the FBI investigation.
"It surprises me," said the Rev. Rafael Melendez, who is Sen. Diaz's 74-year-old half-brother. He said the board meets regularly every two months.
Sen. Diaz is no stranger to scrutiny. In 2005, he repaid the state $5,000 because he'd used state and federal funds given to the nonprofit Soundview Community in Action to buy furniture for his district office and loudspeakers for his campaign.
Workers at the nonprofit Soundview said former Gov. Eliot Spitzer ignored more serious allegations that Diaz forced them to give his wife and ex-wife no-show jobs.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/bronx/2008/06/05/2008-06-05_fbi_probing_diaz_duo_over_millions-2.html#ixzz10r1nksC2
And at the same date and time as the Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade, where the NY Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a contingent. And really, is gay marriage THE defining critical issue facing the South Bronx? Not crime, education, housing, healthcare? It will be interesting to see how many Hispanic Evangelicals he can bus in from the churches on Sunday. And just where did he get all that money for the steady stream of Spanish radio ads?
ReplyDeleteI just read that the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council has joined with other unions in their support for marriage equality. But except for its own members, I don't think that many New Yorkers have ever heard of this union.
ReplyDelete