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| Morganelli with former Nazareth Police Officer Eric Schwab, who left for Stockertown. |
Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye has been charged with skimming $8,000 from gambling operations at the Vig Hose, where he was president for many years before being appointed Mayor. He admitted his theft in Grand Jury testimony. After being charged, he waved his preliminary hearing, something innocent people don't do. Last week, he applied for something called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). That's a special program for first offenders in which charges are dismissed after a period of probation.
On Monday, I argued that Strye's resignation should be a condition of ARD. NorCo DA John Morganelli agrees. (His letter approving Strye's application is below). Morganelli is willing to admit Strye into this special program, but on two conditions. First, Strye must make full restitution of the $8000 he skimmed. Second, Strye must resign his position as Mayor.
Morganelli is troubled by Strye’s involvement in, not just theft, but illegal gambling. Some of you have wondered about this, so let me stop for a moment to make clear that a District Attorney enforces the Crimes Code, not the Liquor Code. The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement investigates allegations of illegal gambling. The state usually acts administratively through the Liquor Control Board, and not criminally. That is why DAs across the state have little involvement in illegal gambling.
Still, I personally believe there is a direct connection between these machines and organized crime. Who supplies the machines these clubs use? Who gets part of the take? Who showers people like Strye with tickets to big sporting events? Strye has admitted to me that he accepts tickets, and I am sure those were never shared with members of the Vig, nor was the value of these tickets reported on income tax returns.
In 1990, the now defunct Pa. Crime Commission claimed that a loose confederation of racketeers, including Bootsie Shumar, were bookmakers who ran the poker machines in the Lehigh Valley. Feds raided the Easton Fleas, where Bootise was an owner, in 2004. According to the US Attorney, Bootsie was giving $1,000 per week kickbacks to club stewards. He was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison despite words of praise from Easton Mayor Sal Panto. It was Shumar's sixth gambling conviction.
Was Bootsie supplying the machines used by "Sneakers" Strye, as they call the Nazareth Mayor?
Strye would know.
And that's a problem. In addition to being associated with the gambling underworld, something he has continued at other clubs, Strye is in charge of Nazareth's beleaguered police department. The fox is quite literally in the hen house. So is Council member Larry Stoudt, who is also involved in the illegal poker operations at the clubs. He actually tried to use local police to rat out a state police informant at the Legion, where he tends bar.
Ironically, Borough Council President Dan Chiavaroli praised Strye in The Morning Call for his work on the police department, which they've emasculated. The last thing Strye or Council wants is an effective police department.
Fortunately, Morganelli rejects Nazareth's so-called leaders. "This office would be remiss in allowing Mr. Strye to continue to be in charge of police operations and supervision as a result of his criminal conduct."
THANK YOU Mr. Morganelli. Now I'm guessing this Strye clown is in Pawlowski style denial and won't resign.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Carl was involved in shady business, but I'm hoping for smart new leadership in Nazareth.
ReplyDeletePart of Ard should include that he can never run for mayor again. Word on the street is that he will be running for mayor again once Ard is complete. I thought if this went to trial then most of the corruption Nazareth would be eliminated. I hope they raid this places in town more often.
ReplyDeleteResign AND never run again for an elected position. Voters in Nazareth seem to like having lawbreakers in office. They would just elect him again.
ReplyDeleteIsn't "immediately" like now? Today? Yesterday?
ReplyDeleteThe condition is that he resign immediately after being approved for ARD by the courts.They have the final say. It's not complicated.
ReplyDeleteHe and his strident supporter, [partner in corruption], Council President Dan Chiavaroli should both resign. Their actions with the police department has cost the Borough thousands of dollars and they walk around town like this is the cost of doing business. Until these clowns and the other flunkies on council lose their positions, this will be the cost of doing business: More lawsuits and massive monetary awards or settlements.
ReplyDelete"Part of Ard should include that he can never run for mayor again. Word on the street is that he will be running for mayor again once Ard is complete. "
ReplyDeleteThat's fine. Let him run. If the people of Nazareth elect him, they will do so having full knowledge of his criminal behavior. I believe he and ALL of Council need to go.
Carl "sneakers" strye jr was a punk and a bully as a kid. He is a punk and a bully as an adul. He will never change. We don't need him in local business. We don't need him in local government. We don't need him as a volunteer fireman. We don't need him as an announcer at football games. Most of all we don't need him to love our town. Carl you're an embarrassment to Nazareth. Don't go away mad, just go away.
ReplyDeleteExit Strye...... New Mayor...... Exit Trachta......
ReplyDeleteBernie, what really is troubling to me is the people that have supported Carl. Without printing names, you can see who they are. Facebook is a documented record, and some of the supporters are crazy to write on his page showing support for a thief! I used to hold some of these folks in high regard, now my opinion of them has changed. They should really consider what they are posting. He buys rounds of drinks for them at the Holy Family Club and everything is fine! Do they not realize he has already ADMITTED to the Grand Jury that he indeed was stealing? So sad......
ReplyDeleteThe public officials that have supported him on this blog and in other media need to look into the mirror. Criminal activity at any level cannot be condoned.
ReplyDeleteSome erased their names yesterday. Real supporters. Especially law enforcement and prominent folks. Crazy
ReplyDeleteBernie:
ReplyDeleteWHats the process once he resigns, I imagine council appoints someone?
9:20 Amen to that
ReplyDeleteCouncil has 30 days from the date of his resignation to appoint a successor. If they fail, it goes to the courts. In my view, they should all resign.
ReplyDeleteA famous radical, Saul Alinsky said, ‘rub raw the sores of discontent’ and compel action through agitation."
ReplyDeleteBernie Ohare, a radical malcontent in his own universe, follows the Alinsky principles to a T, and probably has the "Rules for Radicals " book authored by Alinsky, tucked tight under his filthy paws, at all times.
In that same book, Rule 5 sates : "Ridicule is man's most powerful weapon"
Rule 13: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."
Saul Alinsky even attributes his "Rules for Radicals" book , by acknowledging Lucifer himself.
Funny that Hillary Clinton even wrote her senior theisis about her hero Alinsky, and was able to interview him as well. Now we understand why Hillary and O'Hare love Alinsky.
I'd love to know the actual amount he took. Admitting to taking $8000 was great thinking by his attorney! Now, he'll take the ARD and we'll never know how many hundreds of thousands he really took.
ReplyDeleteCarl "Tele Tubby" Strye should not get ARD. The DA should change the policy and NOT allow any elected public official charge with a crime to be accepted into ARD. TUBBY STRYE'S ARROGANCE is another reason to deny the slob ARD.
ReplyDeleteBy the Way? Who re these elected people supporting him? The public should know that they accept a POS THIEF OF A MAYOR TO ADMITTEDLY STEAL AND STAY IN OFFICE.