See thetrouble anddisgrace main page, as well as theFAQ and thePoliticalGraveyard privacy policy, for important explanations anddisclaimers. in chronological order | |  William Adams Richardson (1821-1896) — of Massachusetts. Born in Tyngsborough,MiddlesexCounty, Mass.,November2, 1821.Republican. Probate judge in Massachusetts, 1856;U.S.Secretary of the Treasury, 1873-74; while Secretary of theTreasury, he hired John D. Sanborn to collect unpaid taxes andreceive a commission, some of which went as akickback toRichardson himself; this arrangement caused anuproar,and Richardsonresignedunder fire;Judgeof U.S. Court of Claims, 1874-96.Unitarian.Died inWashington,D.C.,October19, 1896 (age74 years, 352days).Interment atOakHill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. | | Harry E. Mackenzie — of Bethel,FairfieldCounty, Conn.Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention fromConnecticut,1928,1932,1936.Chargedin May, 1938, along with MayorT.Frank Hayes and 25 others, with conspiracy tocheatand defraud the city of Waterbury of more than a million dollars;admitted that he received large fees forlobbying,and paid half back as akickback to the other conspirators;pleadedguilty in November 1938, and testified against the otherdefendants;sentencedto nine months injail.Burial location unknown.  | Frank D. McKay (1883-1965) — of Grand Rapids,KentCounty, Mich.Born in Grand Rapids,KentCounty, Mich.,November4, 1883.Republican.Financier;political boss who dominated Republican politics in Michigan foryears; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan,1920,1928,1932(alternate),1936,1940,1944;Michiganstate treasurer, 1925-30;investigatedby a grand jury in 1931 over hishandlingof state funds while Treasurer; member ofRepublicanNational Committee from Michigan, 1940-44; subject of threefederal grand juryinvestigationsin 1940 over allegedfraud,extortionandkickbacks;indictedin 1944 forbriberyof state legislators; hired aPurpleGang figure tomurderthe star witness, State Sen.WarrenG. Hooper, and the case collapsed;chargedin 1945, along withWilliamMcKeighan, with conspiracy toviolatestate liquor laws;tried in1946; the judge directed a verdict of not guilty.Died in Miami Beach, Dade County (nowMiami-DadeCounty), Fla.,January12, 1965 (age81 years, 69days).Entombed atGreenwoodCemetery, Grand Rapids, Mich. | | Ernest King Bramblett (1901-1966) — also known asErnest K. Bramblett — of Pacific Grove,MontereyCounty, Calif.Born in Fresno,FresnoCounty, Calif.,April25, 1901.Republican.Insurancebusiness;mayorof Pacific Grove, Calif., 1938-46;U.S.Representative from California, 1947-55 (11th District 1947-53,13th District 1953-55).Protestant.Member,PhiDelta Kappa;Elks;Moose;Rotary;Freemasons;ScottishRite Masons;KnightsTemplar;Shriners.Investigatedby a federal grand jury in Washington over payroll padding in hisoffice; he hadhired hiswife, receivedkickbacks from employees who did no work,and madefalsestatements to the House disbursing officer;indictedon 18 counts in June 1953; pleaded not guilty;tried inFebruary 1954;convictedon seven counts; his conviction was stayed pending appeal, butultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court;fined$5,000, placed on one-yearprobation,and separately required to payrestitution.DiedDecember27, 1966 (age65 years, 246days).Burial location unknown. | | Hugh Joseph Addonizio (1914-1981) — also known asHugh J. Addonizio — of Newark,EssexCounty, N.J.Born in Newark,EssexCounty, N.J.,January31, 1914.Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II;vice-president, A & CTailoringCo.;U.S.Representative from New Jersey 11th District, 1949-62;mayor ofNewark, N.J., 1962-70; defeated, 1970; delegate to DemocraticNational Convention from New Jersey,1964.Catholic.Italianancestry. Member,HolyName Society;Veterans ofForeign Wars;AmericanLegion;UrbanLeague;NAACP;Elks;Lions;Kiwanis;Rotary.Indictedin federal court, December, 1969, along with Municipal JudgeAnthonyGiuliano, other city officials, and reputedorganizedcrime leader, Anthony 'Tony Boy' Boiardo, onextortionandincometax evasionchargesover a scheme to sharekickbacks from a sewer contractingcompany; pleaded not guilty;tried;during the trial a witness identified him as recipient of thousandsof dollars inbribes;convictedin July, 1970;sentencedto ten years inprisonandfined$25,000; released in 1979.Died in Red Bank,MonmouthCounty, N.J.,February2, 1981 (age67 years, 2days).Interment atGateof Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, N.J. | | Anthony Giuliano (c.1897-1970) — of Newark,EssexCounty, N.J.Born in Newark,EssexCounty, N.J., about 1897.Republican.Lawyer;member ofNewJersey state house of assembly from Essex County, 1927; candidateforU.S.Representative from New Jersey, 1948;EssexCounty Clerk, 1955; delegate to Republican National Conventionfrom New Jersey,1956;municipal judge in New Jersey, 1968-69.Indictedin federal court, December, 1969, along with Newark MayorHughJ. Addonizio, other city officials, and reputedorganizedcrime leader Anthony 'Tony Boy' Boiardo, onextortionandincometax evasionchargesover a scheme to sharekickbacks from a sewer contractingcompany; became ill and died before he could be arraigned.Died, from aheartattack, in Newark,EssexCounty, N.J.,February4, 1970 (ageabout 73years).Burial location unknown.| |  Relatives: Sonof Mary Freda. |
| | John T. Gregorio (1928-2013) — also known as"The Lion of Linden" — of Linden,UnionCounty, N.J.Born in Staten Island,RichmondCounty, N.Y.,February6, 1928.Democrat.Florist;mayorof Linden, N.J., 1968-83, 1991-2006; defeated, 2006;shotat in his car, in March 1968; two days later, his house wasfirebombed;member ofNewJersey state house of assembly 21st District, 1974-77;indictedin April 1975 onperjuryand fraudcharges,over his purchase of a vacant lot from Elizabethtown Gas Company,while conspiring tofalsifydocuments toconcealhis involvement as buyer; laterchargedwithextortinga $25,000kickback from a building contractor on a high schoolproject; following jury selection, the charges were dismissed inFebruary 1976; member ofNewJersey state senate, 1978-83 (21st District 1978-81, 20thDistrict 1982-83);indictedin September 1981 onchargesofincometax evasion,concealinghis interest in two "go-go bars", and forfailing toenforce state alcohol laws;convictedin December 1982 of conspiracy to commitofficialmisconduct, but found not guilty on other charges.Died, fromleukemia,in TrinitasHospital,Elizabeth,UnionCounty, N.J.,October23, 2013 (age85 years, 259days).Burial location unknown. | | Albert Sidney Porter Jr. (1904-1979) — also known asAlbert S. Porter — of Lyndhurst,CuyahogaCounty, Ohio; Pepper Pike,CuyahogaCounty, Ohio.Born inPortsmouth,Va.,November29, 1904.Democrat.Civilengineer; served in the U.S. Navy during World War II;CuyahogaCounty Engineer, 1947-76; delegate to Democratic NationalConvention from Ohio,1952,1964,1972;candidate forGovernor ofOhio, 1958; candidate for Democratic nomination for President,1960,1964;chairof Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, 1963-69; member ofDemocraticNational Committee from Ohio, 1964-72; in 1976, reportersdiscoveredthat he forced his staff tokick back two percent of theirpay; aninvestigationresulted; hepleadedguilty to 19 counts oftheftin office, and wassentencedto two years of probation, andfined$10,000.Episcopalian.Member,Freemasons;Grotto;Eagles;AmericanLegion;Veterans ofForeign Wars;MilitaryOrder of the World Wars;ReserveOfficers Association;Sons ofthe American Revolution;Tau BetaPi;SigmaXi;SigmaPhi Epsilon.Died, fromheartdisease anddiabetes,in HillcrestHospital,Mayfield Heights,CuyahogaCounty, Ohio,January7, 1979 (age74 years, 39days).Burial location unknown.| | Relatives: Sonof Albert Sidney Porter and Lena May (Edmonds) Porter; married,April20, 1929, to Grace Marie Robinson; married1949 toGenevieve Shaveyco. | | | | See alsoWikipediaarticle |
 | Charles Coles Diggs Jr. (1922-1998) — also known asCharles C. Diggs, Jr. — of Detroit,WayneCounty, Mich.Born in Detroit,WayneCounty, Mich.,December2, 1922.Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II;mortician;member ofMichiganstate senate 3rd District, 1951-54;U.S.Representative from Michigan 13th District, 1955-80; delegate toDemocratic National Convention from Michigan,1956,1960,1964,1968,1976(alternate); Democratic candidate for Presidential Elector forMichigan,1956.Baptist.Africanancestry. Member,Elks;Freemasons;AmericanLegion.Firstchairman of the Congressional Black Caucus;chargedin March 1978 with takingkickbacks from staff whose salarieshe raised;convicted,October 7, 1978, on eleven counts of mail fraud and filing falsepayroll forms; insisted he had done nothing wrong, and was re-electedwhile awaiting sentencing;censuredby the House on July 31, 1979;sentencedto three years inprisonand served 14 months.Died, of astroke,at Greater Southwest CommunityHospital,Washington,D.C.,August24, 1998 (age75 years, 265days).Interment atDetroitMemorial Park East, Warren, Mich. | | Vincent Riccio (born c.1920) — of Brooklyn,KingsCounty, N.Y.Born about 1920. Member ofNew Yorkstate assembly 51st District, 1969-74;indictedonchargesof takingkickbacks from holders of no-show state jobs;convictedof larceny in May 1981;sentencedto one year injail.Presumed deceased. Burial location unknown. | | William Vincent Musto (1917-2006) — also known asWilliam V. Musto — of Union City,HudsonCounty, N.J.Born in West Hoboken (now part of Union City),HudsonCounty, N.J.,March27, 1917.Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; member ofNewJersey state house of assembly from Hudson County, 1947-65;mayorof Union City, N.J., 1962-70, 1974-82; delegate to DemocraticNational Convention from New Jersey,1964,1976;member ofNewJersey state senate, 1966-82 (District 12 1966-73, 33rd District1974-82);indictedin 1981 on federalchargesthat he took part in a scheme to collect $440,000 inkickbacksfrom a construction company connected toorganizedcrime;convictedin May 1982.Member,AmericanLegion;Veterans ofForeign Wars;Elks.DiedFebruary27, 2006 (age88 years, 337days).Burial location unknown. | | Lee Alexander (1927-1996) — of Syracuse,OnondagaCounty, N.Y.Born in Jersey City,HudsonCounty, N.J.,May 18,1927.Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II;lawyer;candidate forU.S.Representative from New York 34th District, 1962; delegate toDemocratic National Convention from New York,1968(alternate),1980;member, Arrangements Committee,1984;mayorof Syracuse, N.Y., 1970-85; candidate forU.S.Senator from New York, 1974; wasindictedin July 1987 over a $1.5 millionkickbackscandal,andpleadedguilty in January 1988 to racketeering andtaxevasioncharges;served five and a half years inprison.Died, ofcancer,in Syracuse,OnondagaCounty, N.Y.,December25, 1996 (age69 years, 221days).Interment atOakwoodCemetery, Syracuse, N.Y. | | William James McCuen (c.1943-2000) — also known asBill McCuen — of Hot Springs,GarlandCounty, Ark.; Heber Springs,CleburneCounty, Ark.Born in Fort Smith,SebastianCounty, Ark., about 1943.Democrat.Schoolteacher;Arkansasland commissioner, 1981-85;secretaryof state of Arkansas, 1985-94; defeated in primary, 1994;candidate forU.S.Representative from Arkansas 4th District, 1992.After leaving office as Secretary of State, headmittedacceptingkickbacks from two supporters he gave jobs, andnotpaying taxes on the money. He alsoadmittedto conspiring with a political consultant to split $53,560embezzledfrom the state in a sham transaction. He wasindictedon corruptionchargesin 1995. On January 5, 1996, hepleadedguilty to felony counts oftaxevasion and accepting akickback; hepleaded nocontest to a misdemeanor count oftradingin public office.Sentencedto 17 years inprison,andfined.Released on parole (due to illness) in February 1999.Died ofcoloncancer and astroke,in Heber Springs,CleburneCounty, Ark.,September9, 2000 (ageabout 57years).Intermentsomewherein Van Buren, Ark. | | Arthur E. Teele (1946-2005) — also known asArt Teele — of Florida. Born inPrinceGeorge's County, Md.,May 14,1946.Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war;lawyer;director, U.S. Urban Mass Transportation Administration, 1981-83;Republican Presidential Elector for Florida,1992;as Miami city commissioner in 1997-2004, he chaired the CommunityRedevelopment Agency (CRA); aninvestigationof corruption in the agency, started in 2003, led tochargesthat he had accepted $135,000 inkickbacks from twoconstruction companies; as a result, he wasremoved fromoffice in 2004 by Gov.JebBush; in August, 2004, when he and his wife were undersurveillance, hedrove hiscar at a police detective in an attempt torun himover, and alsothreatenedto kill police officers who had been following his wife duringthe investigation;convictedin March 2005 onchargesrelated to this incident;indictedon July 14, 2005, on federal conspiracy andmoneylaundering charges, over a scheme to fraudulently obtaincontracts for electrical work at the Miami International Airportthrough a "minority-owned" shell company; published police reportsrevealed that he had put hismistresson the CRA payroll, that he regularly bought and usedcocaine,and that he frequently made use of a maleprostitute.Churchof God in Christ.Africanancestry. Member,KappaAlpha Psi;NAACP;Freemasons.Came to theofficesof theMiami Herald newspaper, andshothimselfin the head with a semiautomatic pistol; he died two hours later inthe trauma unit of Jackson MemorialHospital,Miami,Miami-DadeCounty, Fla.,July 27,2005 (age59 years, 74days).Interment atCulley's MeadowWood Memorial Park, Tallahassee, Fla. | | Anthony Russo — of Hoboken,HudsonCounty, N.J.Democrat.Mayorof Hoboken, N.J., 1993-2001; defeated, 2001.Pleadedguilty in 2004 toextortingkickbacks from an accounting firm;sentencedto 30 months in federalprison.Still living as of 2004. | | William Shannon Lerach (b. 1946) — also known asWilliam S. Lerach;BillLerach —of Rancho Santa Fe,San DiegoCounty, Calif.Born in1946.Democrat.Lawyer;delegate to Democratic National Convention from California,1996.Pleadguilty in 2007 to federalchargesof conspiracy to commitobstructionof justice and makingfalsedeclarations under oath in connection with akickbackscheme;sentencedto two years in prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to do 1,000 hoursof community service.Still living as of 2010. | | Melvyn I. Weiss (b. 1935) — of Oyster Bay Cove,NassauCounty, Long Island, N.Y.Born in Bronx,BronxCounty, N.Y.,August1, 1935.Democrat.Lawyer;alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York,1996.Pleadedguilty in 2008 to federal charges of makingillegalkickbacks to clients to induce them to sue;sentencedto 30 months inprison,fined$250,000, and ordered to payrestitutionof $9.75 million.Still living as of 2010. | | Vincent Loyola Leibell III (b. 1946) — also known asVincent L. Leibell III — of Carmel,PutnamCounty, N.Y.; Patterson,PutnamCounty, N.Y.Born in New York City (unknowncounty), N.Y.,August6, 1946.Republican.Lawyer;member ofNew Yorkstate assembly, 1983-94 (90th District 1983-92, 91st District1993-94); member ofNew Yorkstate senate, 1995-2009 (37th District 1995-2002, 40th District2003-09); in December 2010, hepleadguilty tobribery,taxevasion, andobstructionof justicecharges,over his distribution of $6.5 million in taxpayer funds to nonprofitgroups he controlled; the FBI also secretly recorded him demandingkickbacks from an attorney;sentencedto 21 months in federalprison.Member,AmericanLegion.Still living as of 2010. | | C. Ray Nagin — of New Orleans,OrleansParish, La.Born in New Orleans,OrleansParish, La.Democrat.Mayorof New Orleans, La., 2002-10; delegate to Democratic NationalConvention from Louisiana,2008;indictedin January 2013 for acceptingbribesandkickbacks in connection with city contracts.Africanancestry.Still living as of 2014.
| |
