Friday, May 06, 2005

On a lighter note, you may have seen this story yesterday:

FBI: Male enhancement drugs illegally provided to mob

Three doctors from the Westchester suburbs of New York City allegedly provided mob figures with erectile dysfunction drugs in exchange for various favors, the FBI said Thursday.

The FBI arrested the doctors -- Arlen Fleisher, Stephen Klass and George Shapiro -- for allegedly illegally providing large quantities of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra as well as other prescription drugs and drug samples to members of the Gambino crime family....

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday by David Kelley, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, FBI wiretaps revealed that Fleisher, Klass and Shapiro supplied the drugs for more than two years to Gambino family capo Gregory DePalma and his "crew" in return for various favors....


An amusing sidelight to this story is the fact that Al Pirro has been linked to these guys. Pirro is the husband of the Republican DA of Westchester County. Here's the link:

Richard Herman, the lawyer for Shapiro ... pointed to Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro's denial of any relationship between her husband and mobsters after reports surfaced that DePalma was caught on a wiretap saying Albert Pirro Jr. had supplied a reputed mob associate with information about a criminal case his wife was handling.

Al Pirro is suing or threatening to sue anyone who tarnishes his reputation by talking about this. Of course, you can't blame the guy:

Pirro ... hopes to put an end to damaging headlines as his wife runs for re-election this year, and perhaps for higher office next year.

Higher office? Yes indeed -- in fact, there have been rumors that Jeanine Pirro might run for Senate against Hillary Clinton.

Jeanine Pirro is a rising star in the New York Republican Party. In fact, she's been a rising star in the Republican Party for years and years, during which time she hasn't risen much. One reason she hasn't risen is her husband-- specifically, a few tiny blemishes on his reputation:

In 1986, Jeanine's bid for lieutenant governor lasted just two days; she withdrew -- embarrassing the GOP -- rather than face questions about Al's stake in a Connecticut carting company with alleged mob ties. Six years later, a former Yonkers planning official claimed Al Pirro gave him a $5,000 bribe to push through a multiplex theater....

In 1995, an Indiana woman named Jessica Marciano slapped Al with a paternity suit, saying he fathered her now 16-year-old daughter during a tumultuous three-month affair in Florida....

For three years, Pirro denied the claim, even tarring Marciano as a "convicted felon," citing her 1983 arrest for theft. (He also claimed the service of a private detective he used in the suit as a business deduction.) A court-ordered DNA test last June confirmed Marciano's claim. Pirro has publicly accepted responsibility for the girl and established a trust fund, with a $10,000 initial contribution. Marciano is still seeking half a million dollars in past child support.


Oh, and:

Pirro carries the baggage of husband Al Pirro's 2000 conviction on federal tax evasion charges, which included allegations he fudged the couple's joint returns to support their lavish lifestyle.

Wow, no wonder New York Republicans think she's got potential.

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