Turnpike_Grand_Jury_Presentment

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Staff Lepore, on behalf of Senator Mellow and others, called the Turnpike’s CEO, COO, and Commissioners and requested that they sell tickets to political fundraisers or raise specific dollar figures for specific candidates. In describing the Turnpike as the cash cow for the Senate, Lepore explained, “It’s a huge organization with vendors with deep pockets and their commissioners are approved by the Senate. It’s as simple as that.” Senator Bob Mellow played a direct part of that process. “Bob Mellow, on the other hand, would call [PTC officials] up and say, hey, guys, I need $20,000 for this event. I have a picnic. I need $12,000. You’re going to buy three four-somes for my golf outing and five signs and furthermore, I want you to put a dinner together for me with some of your vendors and I’ll be there next Tuesday. I mean, there’s no if, ands, or buts about it.” Joseph Brimmeier, Chief Executive Officer of the Turnpike, understood his obligations to the Senate and played a pivotal role both in the award of contracts and fundraising efforts. Brimmeier’s first stop after accepting the Turnpike CEO position was to pay a visit to the Senate Democrats. Lepore met with Brimmeier in person and described the initial meeting in detail to the Grand Jury. “He came to our office and said, hey, you were with me when I was sort of down and out and I’m going to be with you. He and I had a relationship. He said, Tony [Lepore], Bob Mellow, I’m your guy. You come to me. Again, a good politician because if we’re going to him, then, in a sense we owe him. If we’re not going to the commissioners and going to the CEO, it makes that CEO even more powerful because Bob Mellow and the Senate Democrats are going to him directly. . . . When the CEO comes on day one or day two over and says, man, I got this job and I’ll always remember you guys and I appreciate your support, you come to me, I’m your guy, you know what it is. You pick up the phone and call him, which we 10
did.” Lepore regularly called Brimmeier’s cell phone and met him at the Turnpike offices, or most often would meet Brimmeier with Mellow in their Senate offices. Turnpike Commissioner Lincoln described CEO Brimmeier as having his hands in everything and explained that Brimmeier and Commissioner Rubin controlled the essential decisions made at the Turnpike. Chief of Staff Lepore explained that they would pick and choose to whom they went for favors at the Turnpike. While CEO Brimmeier carried a great deal of water for Senator Mellow and the Senate Democrats, Lepore and Senator Mellow also went to Turnpike Chairman Mitchell Rubin. Lepore explained that they “would go to Mitchell [Rubin] and Mitchell would get a plum job for somebody.” Numerous witnesses testified before the Grand Jury concerning the political efforts of Turnpike staff during a former Governor’s election and re-election campaigns. Part of the political fundraising effort was carried out by Hatalowich by calling contractors and engineering firms who had work with the Turnpike. As the Turnpike’s Contracts Administrator, Hatalowich maintained lists of all firms doing work with the Turnpike. The Grand Jury reviewed separate lists maintained for engineering contracts, non-engineering contracts, and attorneys doing work with the Turnpike. The engineering lists, in particular, track the name of the firm, the outstanding work with the Turnpike, the total amount of the contract, and how much that particular firm has been paid by the Turnpike to date. Witnesses explained that Hatalowich used these lists to generate invitations to political fundraisers and to contact vendors directly about their political participation. The Grand Jury also reviewed emails from Hatalowich directing Turnpike staff to convert vendor lists into label format and print them. Turnpike employees later learned that these labels were used for invitations to political fundraising events. 11
Page 1 and 2: INTRODUCTION We, the members of the
Page 3 and 4: state officials. In addition, Rubin
Page 5 and 6: History of the Pennsylvania Turnpik
Page 7 and 8: day-to-day operations are also mana
Page 9: opportunity to be an underwriter or
Page 13 and 14: Date Amount Recipient 6/4/2001 $500
Page 15 and 16: told the Turnpike consultants “th
Page 17 and 18: campaign contributions made by the
Page 19 and 20: Prior to the official meeting of th
Page 21 and 22: He further described Hatalowich’s
Page 23 and 24: Administrator and the Turnpike Comm
Page 25 and 26: He said, listen, we want to get pai
Page 27 and 28: Rodgers by $700,000.00. The Commiss
Page 29 and 30: those things happen all the time, a
Page 31 and 32: Duration (minutes) of calls made on
Page 33 and 34: Date Amount Recipient 8/7/2006 $200
Page 35 and 36: As Commissioner Rubin promised, the
Page 37 and 38: McTish, Kunkle & Associates (“MKA
Page 39 and 40: Lastly, MKA was selected to provide
Page 41 and 42: Sucevic, Piccolomini & Kuchar Engin
Page 43 and 44: TPD’s President also explained hi
Page 45 and 46: pressure exerted by Turnpike offici
Page 47 and 48: Date Gift/Event Description Amount
Page 49 and 50: The Grand Jury finds a prima facie
Page 51 and 52: A: Yes. A former Turnpike Director
Page 53 and 54: Ciber’s $82 million contracts for
Page 55 and 56: Commonwealth. BearingPoint raised t
Page 57 and 58: very important to winning the propo
Page 59 and 60: the Information Technology area of
Page 61 and 62:
with them and answer their question
Page 63 and 64:
Dennis Miller also secured work for
Page 65 and 66:
International Bridge, Tunnel and Tu
Page 67 and 68:
Shortly thereafter, Brimmeier calle
Page 69 and 70:
As Director of Toll Revenue Audit,
Page 71 and 72:
elationship with Turnpike CEO Brimm
Page 73 and 74:
Lepore knew Suzenski and was also a
Page 75 and 76:
Date Gift/Expense Description Amoun
Page 77 and 78:
The Grand Jury finds a prima facie
Page 79 and 80:
contacting Lepore directly. When ex
Page 81 and 82:
Date Description of Event Attendees
Page 83 and 84:
instructed by his Chief Counsel to
Page 85:
. . [F]ollow the money and you will
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Turnpike_Grand_Jury_Presentment

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