Schundler Calls For Investigation Into McGreevey-Organized Crime LinkUrban Times News
March 7 - March 13, 2003
By Steven Glazer
(Jersey City-)Former Jersey City
Mayor and gubernatorial candidate called
for an investigation into the McGreevey
administration and possible pressures on
the State's parole board to act favorably on
the application of convicted Genovese
crime boss Angelo Prisco. The Asbury
Park Press published a story detailing
pressure from the Governor's office on
Mario Paparozzi, who was then chairman
of the State Parole board, to grant early
release to Prisco. Prisco was represented
at the time by Donald Scarinci.
Scarinci denied that anything
improper was done or that any influence
was brought to bear on his client's behalf.
Scarinci told the Asbury Park Press that
Prisco's release followed the normal
course of approvals. Scarinci said that no
one from his law firm had any contact concerning the case with anyone in the
governor's office, including the governor.
Scarinci said that neither he nor Robert
Levy, the attorney who handled the matter
for Scarinci and Hollenbeck had been
interviewed by investigators of the
Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney
General's Office, in connection with the
matter.
Prisco was sentenced in 1998 to
12 years in prison for arson and conspira-
cy. After four years Prisco was eligible for
parole but was denied in January 2002.
Later, represented by Scarinci and
Hollenbeck, Prisco's parole was approved
in May of 2002 and Prisco was released in
August. Prisco was indicted along with
Louis Auricchio who is a brother-in-law
of former state Senate President John
Lynch, a leading Democratic Power bro-
ker and a supporter of McGreevey.
Scarinci is also a statewide Democratic
power broker with roots in Hudson County and a major contributor to
McGreevey. Scarinci is known as one of
the top Democratic fundraisers in the state
and is Treasurer of Menendez for
Congress, a powerful supporter of Rep.
Robert Menendez, D-13. Scarinci served
as general counsel to McGreevey's transi-
tion team and was recently hired as coun-
sel to the Assembly Democrats.
Schundler said, "These allega-
tions, if true, represent the most offensive
breach of trust imaginable and are a sign
that McGreevey and his administration
may be more than just patently inept, they
may be criminal." Schundler said that McGreevey had joined him in a pledge to
"eliminate the pay-to-play culture perva-
sive in Trenton. Not only has he reneged
on this promise, but if these allegations
prove true, he has taken the practice to
new and outrageous levels."
