Posted on 06/12/2005 5:42:44 AM PDT by Liz
Tom D'Alessio is a generous guy.
Two months after he was released from federal prison after serving time for political corruption charges in 1998, the former Essex County Executive set up a charitable foundation.
D'Alessio called it the Evergreen Fund and has bankrolled it with more than $1.8 million of the nearly $2 million that was left in his campaign fund.
Last year, the foundation reported it gave out $37,750 in contributions of $500 or so to dozens of organizations like the March of Dimes, the United Way and the Boy Scouts. It also paid D'Alessio an $81,708 salary as executive director, leased a $45,665 Mercedes-Benz for him and purchased a $432,000 luxury condominium on Marco Island along Florida's Gulf Coast.
And it was all perfectly legal.
While New Jersey law prevents former political candidates from pocketing leftover campaign cash, they can give the money to charity. Using that loophole, D'Alessio has been able to tap that money through the Evergreen Fund.
Public records show the 70-year-old D'Alessio, a onetime Essex County sheriff, has paid himself far more than the actual charitable endeavors, funding a comfortable Florida retirement by tapping into the now tax-exempt money.
Between 1999 and 2003, the Evergreen Fund gave $200,850 to nonprofit organizations in New Jersey and Florida, where D'Alessio now resides, according to the foundation's income tax returns. The most recent return was filed in November.
During that same period, the foundation spent more than $886,000 in operating and administrative expenses, including $346,140 in salary for D'Alessio, who also receives a $3,318 monthly state pension. During those five years, the foundation spent $16,233 for travel, $52,000 in accounting fees and $30,000 in salary for his daughter, Jennifer Luongo of Nutley, who is a director and the foundation's treasurer.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Doesn't include all the money he pocketed under the table (/sarc).
well he is a one lucky bastard...
NOW fix the loophole....
.....and besides, did the people who ponied up for his campaigns intend their money to fund his lavish retirement lifestyle?........
now that really depends....I wonder if any of them are making any noise about it?
Somebody squealed if it got in the newspaper.
maybe....
could have been a FReeper too :)
Even better....an alert FReeper.....LOL.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1352722/posts
New Jersey - Corruption and Scandal BUMP LIST
and they are worried about the mosquito guys in bergen county see:
County office X-rated, suit alleges
posted on news/activism this morning
The loop hole fixers are the loop hole users thats why we have so many illegals here follow the money.
Save The Earth, huh? LOL!
why must everything revolve around illegal aliens?
It is really easy, instead of quitting on the system, get responsible, conservative people into power.
Criminal mastermind politican's got all the bases covered (gag).
THIS is why NO state in the union has a chance of overtaking New Jersey as the hands down most corrupt state in America. The head that wears the crown rests easy for now. ( I know, I know, Chicago comes to mind, but it's not a separate state - Sorry Big Shoulders crowd).
Thats like my former congress scum Bob Traxler (D) (crook)of MI. Collected campaign cash and then the day before he was to file for re-election. He didnt and kept the cash. Barcia (D) wound up getting his seat
If the IRS investigates and determines that the foundation was not legit, he's going back inside.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Just where this crook belongs.
Essex county is so corrupt, I see Jim Treffinger just got out of jail. I wonder which is worse: Essex, Passaic or Hudson, they seem to be in a tie.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1352722/posts
New Jersey - Corruption and Scandal BUMP LIST
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.