Bruzzese Hanlin Steubenville Corruption

Harold Star

As I was filing my research and documents away regarding Steubenville/Jefferson County its politics and history of corruption, your posts came online regarding much of the same information I had uncovered or alreay had in my files. So, rather than let the research and documentation go to waste, I have decided to set forth information which seems to coincide and affirm much of what you have posted. I will start with Steubenville/Jefferson County right after the second world war (1946) and provide you with some interesting documentation. Since some items are no longer availalabe to the general public, please note that what I say, therefore, must be considered a work of fiction. The views and expressions set forth below are purley those of the author. Any resemblence to any person alive or dead are purely coincidental. The expressions set forth are only opinion as protected by the 1st Amendment Right of Free Speech. Oppossing views are encouraged and welcomed. Any such opposing views and opinions should take precedence over my views and opinions, and such would constitute a retraction of my views and opinons.

THE TREE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE APPLES
(A working title)

In order to better understand the history of organized crime and corruption in Steubenville/Jefferson County, one should attempt to read a bood entitled TWELVE AGAINST THE UNDERWORLD by Norman E. Nygarrd published in 1947.

That book is available on reserve at the Steubenville Public Library and cannot be removed from the premises. It can, however, be photocopied at the libarary. It may also be available on microfilm.

The book entails and documents the struggle and attempts of 12 ministers to “clean up” the organized crime elements in Steubenville/Jefferson County. Author Nygaard was born in 1897 and died in 1971. Obviously, he had a great deal of knowledge about Steubenville.

Unfortuanately, the organized crime and corruption never ended in Steubenville/Jeffeson County although the names and faces of those involved changed. Usually, however, the same “families” through the generations continued in the traditions left by their fathers.

With this setting in mind, on February 12, 1932 a man named Hugo Alexander, a graduate of Ohio State University Law School was admitted as a lawyer to the Ohio State Bar. He set up his practice in Steubenville, Ohio. His offices were run out of Steubenville’s City Annex Bldg, now since destroyed.

Attorney Alexander became a powerful legal and political force in the City of Steubenville. He had his hands in and on everything. He was known throught Ohio and the United States as a great lawyer, strategist and ran an organization feared by all. In all the time he was involved in various ventures and legal matters in Steubenville and Jefferson County, he was always able to avoid any sanctions or repercussions from his peers in the organized Ohio Bar. Only one time were they forced to show any concern over him and that was on October 15, 1975 when he received a “public reprimand” from the Ohio Supreme Court.

Attorney Alexander was once the powerful chairman of the Jefferson County Democratic party. He was also once the elected Jefferson County Proscuting Attorney, a part-time position, which permitted him to maintain his law practice and other ventures. Attorney Alexander was the delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention from the then 18th Congressional District. Wayne L. Hayes was the long time congressman from that district which included Jefferon County. (The history of Wayne L. Hayes is readily available on the internet. That history is merely one more chapter of the envinroment in existence then (and now) in this section of Eastern Ohio.

Attorney Alexander amassed a fortune during his tenure as the Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman and his time as a lawyer. Some of his holdings include incorporations of the following business ventures: The Home Coal Co., incorporated January 31, 1946; The Coffee Club, incorporated June 5, 1953; Wisna Industries, Inc., incorporated February 6, 1978;Oho Valley Coal Co., incorporated April 3, 1981; Ohio Valley Land Develpment,Inc. incorporated April 28, 1980; Plaza of Ohio, Inc. incorporaed February 9, 1978; The Catholic Central Boosters Association of Steubenville, Inc., incorporatged on March 31, 1947; Peak and Co., incorporated on February 6 , 1978; Demestic Petroleum Corp., incorporated November 19, 1973; Ft. Steuben Associates, incorporated October 15, 1975; Four State Mining and Fuel Co., incorporated July 29, 1977; Alexander Development Co., Inc. Incorporated August 8, 1957; Anko Co., incorporated July 27, 1949; Better Brands Bee Distributers, Inc. incorporated June 20, 1957.

Attorney Alexander purchased an old and abonded race track and its land in Steubenville Ohio commonly known at the time as Buddies Field. He developed that area into an upscale residential neighborhood known as Alexander Manner.

If, in the “organized activity” field, Mr. Alexander was the Captain, he always surrounded himself with willing Lts. anxious to do his bidding and get in on the action. Anyone that wanted a job with the Democratic controlled county needed to get his approval.

In 1947, Joseph J. Bruzzese, Sr. graduated Ohio Northern Law School and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio. He came to Steubenville and set up a private practice of law. He became associated with Attorney Alexander and attempted to follow in his footsteps. He ingraned himself in the Democratic Party machine and was rewarded for his loyalty. He never, however, rose above a loyal Lt. in the organization. He was always a wanna-be.

Attorney Bruzzese Sr. purchased a home on Fourth Street in Steubenville, Ohio across from the Carnegie (now Steubenville) Public Libarary where he raised his family, including two sons, Frank and Joseph, Jr. He became very active in local politics but never seemed to reach the pinacles of elected office. In 1980, his younger son, Joseph Jr. was elected a part-time county court judge.

Attorney Bruzzese Sr. attempted political office himself in approximately 1984 when he ran for Jefferson County Probate/Juvenile Judge upon the retirement of long serving Judge John R. Spon.

The plan, at the time, was for Attorney Bruzzese, Sr. to be elected to that six year position, serve one term, increase his public employees retirement benefits with a large judicial salary and then help orchestrate the election of county court Judge Samuel Kerr to that position.

Joseph J. Bruzzese, Sr., however lost the democratic primary, which included a large field, to an attorney named Gary Hallock. Hallock became a marked man and in the next election six years later, the “organization” was able to defeat Hallock and have Samuel Kerr elected.

Bruzzese, Sr., however, did not want for extra income through his connections with the democratic party. He was appointed to a well paying taxpayer supported environmental agency run by democratic political cronnies. He was placed on the payroll as their attorney, a position which required no work but good pay. That agency called The North Ohio Valley Air Authority went up in smoke and dismanded after it was discovered by federal authorities that it was shrouded in corruption and kick- backs.

The director of that agency, Richard Canestrao, the former Jefferson County Auditor and a former Jefferson County Democratic Chairman was convicted of federal crimes along with various other individuals, one of whom was the democratic nominee for Jefferson County Commmissioner in the past 2012 general election. The Canestraro case can be found in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. RICHARD W. CANESTRARO, 282 F. 3d 427.

Keeping in mind that THE TREE (PATRIARCH) DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE APPLES (SONS) a few incidents involving Bruzzese Jr. are worth mentioning.

When Bruzzese, Jr. joined his father’s law firm, that firm, and in particular, Jr took on a client named Joseph Scugozo who sought to open a landfill in Jefferson County, Ohio known as CrossRidge Landfill. Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. was relentless in his representation of Mr. Scugozo. To this day, Mr. Scugozo and CrossRidge Landfill are in court proceedings brought by the Ohio Attorney General and others for violation of Ohio’s Evironmental Laws. A check of the recent Jefferson County Ohio Court docket will reveal the pending actions and decisions on those matters.

Interesting to note, one Common Pleas Judge that is hearing the attorney general’s compliants and lawsuits against Scugozo and CrossRidge is Common Pleas Judge Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. There has been no stepping aside by him based upon prior representation or conflicts. As a matter-of-fact, during one recent hearing Mr. Scugozo appeared on a contempt matter without an attorney. The Judge, his former attorney, took him and the representative from th A.G.’s office into his chambers and worked out a deal.

The relationship of Scugozo, landfills, organized crime and attorneys who have helped them is set forth in a book called SPACE, TIME AND ORGANIZED CRIME, Second Addition by Alan R. Block, copyright 1994. On page 237 of the book, the following is written:

“OHIO PROVIDES A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF ORGANIZED CRIMINALS MOVING WEST FROM NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH NEW DUMPING SITES. IN TESTIMONY BEFORE THE OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN 1988, OHIO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL ANTHONY J. CELEBREZZE, JR. EXPOSED MOTHODS EMPLOYED BY A MAJOR NEW JERSEY RACKETEER TO OBTAIN A LANDFILL SITE IN HIS STATE. THROUGH THE USE OF A “FRONT MAN” AND LOCAL OHIO ATTORNEYS, RACKETEER JOSPH SCUGOZO BOUGHT THE CROSSRIDGE LANDFILL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO.”

In 1981, Joseph, Jr. became a county court judge. In 1986, an attorney from Dillonvale, Ohio named Larry Booth challenged him in the general election. Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. won the election. Attorney Larry Booth has paid the price of such arrogance in challenging the “machine” and barely survives to this day on his private law practice.

When Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. decided to run for election in 1996 for the seat being vacated by retired Common Pleas Judge Domichk E. Olivito, he found no opposition except for a well respected attorney named Casimire Adulewicz. Adulewicz, the more experience attorney and a long time former assistant prosecuting attorney, was a court magistrate for Common Pleas Judge John J. Mascio, Sr. and also a court magistrate for Juvenile Judge Samuel Kerr.

Upon learning that Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. was facing opposition, Common Pleas Judge John J. Mascio, Sr. gave Attorney Adulewicz an ultimatum. Don’t run against Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. for common pleas court or lose your job as a magistrate. Attorney Adulewicz ran for the office and was immediately dischargeD as the magistrate of Judge Mascio.

Judge Mascio is another story in itself. He was the former law director for the City of Steubenville until he was elected Common Pleas Judge in 1984. In the election just prior for Common Pleas Judge, Mascio was challenged for law director by an attorney named Anthony DiCarlintonio. Mascio, the long term law director was almost beat by newcomer DiCarlintonio.
DiCarlintonio became law director after Mascio took the bench. DiCarlinto was later convicted in Federal Court along with the Steubenville Fire Chief for taking kick-backs. He was disbarred.

Mascio has been publicly reprimanded by the Ohio Supreme Court for his conduct while serving as a Common Pleas Court Judge.

One other revealing matter as to the Tree Not Falling Far From the Apples can be found in the cse of DREAMA DUNN v. JUDGE JOSEPH J. BRUZZESE, JR. found in 172 Ohio App. 3d 320 decided in 2007.

The Facts of the case set forth in the Appellate Court Opinion state in part: “In 1983, Dunn began working as a legal secretary in Judge Bruzzese’s law firm. During this time, she was assigned as the legal secretary to four of the firm’s six attorneys, including Judge Bruzzese. Prior to Dunne’s employment at the firm, Judge Bruzzese was elected to a part-time judicial position on the Jeffeson County Court.” When Dunn expressed a desire for better benefits, in 1991, Judge Bruzzese made her a part-time employee of the county court system as his secretary, in part to prevent her from finding another job. Over the course of her employment with the law firm, Judge Bruzzese complimented her work and told her he always wanted her to be his secretary.”

IN OTHER WORDS, AS REVEALED IN OFFICIAL COURT DOCUMENTS, JUDGE BRUZZESE USED THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF HIS JUDICIAL OFFICE TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO KEEP HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE LEGAL SECRETARY.
IT SAYS IT IN BLACK AND WHITE. Why not criminal charges for unlwaful interest in a public contract against Bruzzese? Why no disciplinary investigation? Why no reporting by the county auditor of improper payments. Dunn was a part-time secretary in name only in the county court only to receive extra salary and benefits (hospitalization, retirement, etc.)for staying with Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. and his law frim. The whole law firm is guilty of theft of public money.

The case goes on to explain the relationship between Dunn and Bruzzese. “IN NOVEMBER 1996, Judge Bruzzese ws elected to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, and Dunn became his judicial secretary. * * * During Dunn’s employment at the courthouse, Judge Bruzzese complimented her abilities and told her he always wanted her to be his secretary.”

The case goes on to report the alleged dysfunctional relationship that developed between Dunn and Bruzzese and delves into whether or not her eventaul firing by Bruzzese was justified Can you guess on whose side Judge Bruzzese’s brethren judges took?

Despite what is written or said in the court opinion, in reality (of course only opinion) everone knew that the two had a relationship that was more than secretary and employer. Have you ever seen the movie Fatal Attraction with Glen Close? The two had constant “hissy” fits. When it came time to pull the plug (on the job, not in their bathtub) it was not hard to find “witnesses” to testify against Drema Dunn and in favor of Judge Bruzzese. I wonder if any of those witnesses would have been former law partners of the Judge.

And so, the above would simply be the forward to the Book--THE TREE DOESN’T FALL FAR FROM THE APPLES. After the dedication pages and disclaimers, the book would then go into more chapters about Steubenville/Jefferson County and its history of corruption, conflicts and cohorts.

But alas, that book won’t be written, because, it would entail thousands of pages and hundreds of chapters. Also, in reality, in Steubenville and Jefferson County, who cares. The bar association and public officials would surround the wagons and have public gatherings, protests and picknicks proclaiming SAVE OUR LAWYERS. Perhaps, even the Steubenville High School marching band could be there to play ROLL RED ROLL music.

Maybe centuries from now Charleton Heston and a crew from his space ship will crash land in what was once Steubenville and discover documents relative to the area. Unfortunately, unlike to movies, he will not find any evidence of intelligence.