Barletta Accepts Money from Drug Dealers
Mayor Lou Barletta, who is running for Congress against Representative Paul Kanjorski, has accepted $2,000 is campaign donations from two men who were once involved with a Luzerne County cocaine ring. According to FEC campaign donation records, and as reported by the Citizens Voice, the Barletta campaign has accepted $1,000 each from Paul and Neal DeAngelo. Worse, Barletta says he has no intention of giving the money back.
As reported by the Citizens Voice…
“The list of contributors to Republican congressional candidate Lou Barletta includes two brothers who were once entangled in a southern Luzerne County cocaine-distribution ring but are now prominent businessmen there.
Paul and Neal DeAngelo, the owners of DBiServices Inc., each gave Barletta $1,000 on March 28.
In 1994, Paul DeAngelo was sentenced to 18 months in jail for his role in the Empire drug ring, which operated in the late 1980s. He was released in 1995.
As a government witness in the trial of another ring member, Neal DeAngelo, who was not charged, testified that Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan called him in 1986 to say Paul DeAngelo was doing business with a cocaine dealer who was being investigated. The judge, according to the testimony, offered to put them in touch with a Florida dealer, Neal DeAngelo testified.”
Despite all of this, Mayor Lou Barletta says he has no plans on giving any of the money back. In fact, showing flashes of his famous temper, Barletta blasted his opponent, Paul Kanjorski, for “shopping the story around to reporters.” He then went on to defend these two men, saying…
“These two guys (the DeAngelos) made a mistake,” Barletta said. “They paid their dues and through honest, hard work they built a business that is one of the biggest in Hazleton.
Paul Kanjorski wants to drag these guys through the mud,” Barletta said. “Paul Kanjorski should be trying to get more companies like DBi to our area.”
So, in addition to slashing the Hazleton Police Force in half, resulting in a massive surge in crime, Mayor Lou Barletta is also accepting campaign donations from men who have been involved with cocaine distribution. And when confronted with this information, he then defends these men and their character and refuses to give any of the money back. Oh, and how dare Paul Kanjorski even bring this up?
Lou Barletta is a career liar. He has run Hazleton into the ground. His police force cuts have resulted in massive crime spikes. Businesses are closing, on a regular basis, in Hazleton. Many former storefronts are now sitting empty. The city is being squeezed by legal bills incurred as a result of Mayor Barletta’s failed attempt to defend his extremist immigration policy in court. And on top of it all, he is taking money from men who admitted to being involved with a drug trafficking operation.
This is why I am sickened to see Lou Barletta represent the Republican Party in this election. Barletta is a disgrace of a man, an embarrassment to both Hazleton and the Republican Party, and a joke of a congressional candidate. Clearly, Lou Barletta should not be elected to the United States Congress.
-Dan Cheek
www.StopLouBarletta.com
StopLouBarletta@gmail.com
August 7th, 2008 at 5:44 am
“Paul Kanjorski should be trying to get more companies like DBi to our area.” - Sweet Lou.
I love that quote! He is saying we should have more drug dealing, felons running the businesses in our community. Why would anyone want that????
Another thing Sweet Lou did to cut the police force was back in 2000, he told the police force that they had to give up the 25 year retirement package or there would be layoffs. Well, the guys in blue did what they had to to save their jobs and signed away their pension. And you know what Sweet Lou did anyway? You guessed it, he layed off numerous officers and thus started the ball rolling for the insane rise in crime in the city. The State Fraternal Order of Police President, Mark Koch, can confirm this.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
[...] Mayor Lou Barletta has accepted $1000 from the Northern Lights Political Action Committee (PAC), a PAC that is run by Senator Ted Stevens. Naturally, Representative Paul Kanjorski, Barletta’s opponent, has called on Barletta to give the money back. And, predictably, the Barletta camp has so far refused. Just like they’ve refused to give back the $2,000 that they’ve accepted from the DiAngel…. [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHpZLzeCuiQ
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 am
I work for the DeAngelo brothers. This dosnt suprise me at all. They are the most shady company ive worked for. they will not provide affordable health insurance for there employees and employ a lot of dirty tactics to get you to break the law to do your job. how does 120$ a week sound for health insurance on yourself? In general they treat there employees like shit. They must have one of the highest turnover rates of any company in this country. Most people who do stick it out with them cant get a job anywhere else due to criminal history such as these tools.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I agree with some of other DBI workers comments.(most likely some one who wants sometheing for being a nobody) My insurance is much-much cheaper and many other benefits at good price.
But bottom line is I am embarrassed at this time to travel in a truck having DBI on the side…
October 31st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Everybody has done something wrong in there lives. Are popltics about pointing fingrs???(He did this or she did that) or is it about us, the people?….All of this reminds me of my 5 year old and 8 year old, no matter who it is.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I would like to fix last “polotics”
And please ALL GROW UP.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Bottom line is Paul and Neal paid their dues, and employee alot of Hazletonians that wouldn’t be working anywhere else and Lou has turned Hazleton around 180 degrees. STOPLOUBARLETTA is the only thing that should be stopped!!!