Pompeii

One Thing, Jesus Christ.
Fr. Ben Daghir Will Post Weekly Articles HERE!
SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE #11 - April 14th, 2023 by Fr. Ben Daghir

Editor's Note: Fr. Ben Daghir reflects on the positive influence of a priest, Fr. Eric Vogt, OSB. Fr. Eric was a parish priest in Saint Marys, Pennsylvania for many years and Fr. Ben's high school baseball coach at Elk County Catholic. 

Picture attached: Fr. Eric Vogt prays over Fr. Ben Daghir during the laying on of hands at St. Patrick's Church in Erie at the priesthood ordination on May 27, 2022. 

Article:
I would like to take a moment and reflect on the priestly influence of Fr. Eric Vogt, OSB. His passing has reminded me how much young men see priests and look up to priests. We must always remember these truths. 

Fr. Eric Vogt recently passed away on Saturday, April 8th. He was a longtime pastor in Saint Marys, Pennsylvania. He was also my baseball coach at Elk County Catholic High School. My teammates and I called him “Padre.” 

I remember it was July 2016. I received a letter in the mail that day from Bishop Lawrence T. Persico and I wanted to share it with Fr. Eric Vogt. Bishop Perisco’s letter indicated that he had accepted me into seminarian formation at Saint Mark’s Seminary in Erie. 

I walked into Fr. Eric Vogt’s office at Sacred Heart Parish in Saint Marys and handed him the letter. “Padre, I’d like for you to read this.”

Before finishing the letter, Fr. Eric Vogt began to cry. He was so happy, joyful, and proud. Fr. Eric then shared his love for the priesthood and his excitement for me. 

It’s not possible to fully explain how influential this type of priestly influence is on a young man. All I know is that a priest who genuinely loves being a priest radically changes those around him. 

There’s one more story that I would like to share. It is my brother Luke’s favorite story about Fr. Eric Vogt. As I had mentioned, Fr. Eric was our baseball coach at Elk County Catholic High School. Of course, my teammates and I always sat in the back of the bus and the coaches sat toward the front when we traveled to away games.  

Fr. Eric Vogt always read the Bible while we traveled to those away games. You could look down the bus aisle and see the Bible on his lap. He was immersed in Scripture. No one ever really talked about it, but we all noticed. 

This past Saturday, April 8th, we lost Fr. Eric Vogt. A week later, on Saturday, April 15th, my brother (Luke Daghir) will be ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Erie at St. Mark’s Seminary. Luke is quickly approaching the priesthood. 

These dates are not a coincidence, of course. It is from the witness of a priest who read the Bible on a high school bus traveling to away baseball games. It is from the influence of a priest who cried on separate occasions when two of his baseball players entered the seminary. 

It is ultimately the fruit of a priest who genuinely loved his priesthood. Young men see priests. Young men look up to priests. 

As a young man and a young priest, I say “Thank you, Padre.”

========================
Fr. Ben Daghir is a priest for the Diocese of Erie. He is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Marys, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. He considers writing one of his favorite hobbies.

Howard Albert “Punk” Smith, age 73, of Treasure Lake, DuBois, PA, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.

Born on June 8, 1949, in DuBois, PA to his two loving parents, the late Howard Smith and Helen Gordon.

 

Howard served in the Army Reserves.

 

Howard married Lee Ann Licatovich Smith on May 27, 1978. She survives.

 

Punk retired as a warehouse foreman from Claster’s  in DuBois after many years of service.

 

Howard is also survived by his son, Thomas Bender of DuBois PA, his two daughters (Shayna Ireland, wife of John Ireland, of Malta, NY and Erin Smith, Orlando, FL), his sister (Carol and her husband Ben Anderson, of Falls Creek, PA) and six grandchildren (Kateyln, Thomas, and Sophie Bender, Everlie Ireland, and Nyx and Ryze Hickman). 

 

Howard was preceded in death by his parents and his uncle, Ed Miller.

 

There are not enough words in the world to describe all the smiles and happiness that Howard has brought to the world.  He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and the world’s best grandpa.

 

Punk loved playing pool, listening to music, golfing, traveling with his wife, and spending time with his best friend, Dave Gritzer and his wife, Jeanine Gritzer, of Pittsburgh, PA.

 

Howard will be immensely missed by everyone who knew him.

 

Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 11 AM – 12 PM at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.

 

A memorial service will be held at 12 PM from the funeral home with Father Mark Swoger officiating. 

 

Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

 

Online condolences can be sent to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence

Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!" 

Who's in the News?

▫️Operation Cyber Spear: 10 arrested in Utah child sex abuse sting operation
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Attorney General’s Office announced on Tuesday that authorities across the state have recently arrested 10 people in a sting operation who were believed to have targeted children via text and social media to meet for sexual activity. According to the press release, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force spent two weeks in early spring conducting a statewide undercover operation that sought to expose adults who are perpetuating child sexual abuse material online.
» https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/10-arrested-in-utah-child-sex-abuse-sting-operation/
» https://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/internet-crimes-against-children-task-force-arrest-10-people-in-chat-sting-operation/ 

▫️Felon charged with raping, sex trafficking minor in Hemet area
MURRIETA – A convicted felon accused of taking a runaway girl off the streets of Hemet, plying her with alcohol and sexually assaulting her multiple times, was charged today with rape of an intoxicated person and other offenses. Frankie Lopez Frias, 39, of Valle Vista was arrested Thursday following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.
https://myvalleynews.com/blog/2023/04/11/felon-charged-with-raping-sex-trafficking-minor-in-hemet-area/ 

▫️Former Magnolia ISD high school teacher arrested on child porn charges
MAGNOLIA, Texas - Authorities in Montgomery County have a former high school teacher behind bars for an alleged improper relationship with a student and child porn charges. According to a press release by Montgomery County Pct. 5 Constables, Grant Tozer, 26, of The Woodlands, was arrested Tuesday following a lengthy investigation by law enforcement officials.
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/former-magnolia-isd-high-school-teacher-arrested-on-child-porn-charges 

▫️Urologist accused of patient sexual abuse, including of minors
NEW YORK — A New York-area doctor was charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with sexual abuse of multiple male patients over several years, accused of using the prestige of two prominent medical institutions to make his actions seem medically necessary and appropriate. Darius A. Paduch, 55, of North Bergen, New Jersey, was charged in Manhattan federal court with sexually abusing patients, including two males who were allegedly attacked before they became adults. 
» https://www.kcbd.com/2023/04/12/urologist-accused-patient-sexual-abuse-including-minors/
» https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11962533/Urologist-accused-patient-sex-abuse-including-minors.html

▫️Beaumont man who hid runaway teen indicted for child sex assault
BEAUMONT, Texas — A 44-year-old Beaumont man who helped search for a missing 14-year-old Vidor girl by handing out fliers while police say he was hiding her in a Beaumont home has been indicted on child sex assault charges. John David Allen III, 44, of Beaumont, was indicted last week by a Jefferson County Grand Jury on sexual assault of a child, sexual performance of a child and possession of child pornography charges.
https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/crime/beaumont-man-police-say-hid-runaway-vidor-teen-indicted-on-child-sex-assault-charges/502-14ad69a5-5a90-44e1-aca8-cf9671553dae        (VIDEO) 

▫️Lancaster County Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Children
STEVENS, PA — Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department announced the arrest of 46-year-old Jon Michael Leister on child sexual abuse charges. According to the criminal complaint, on January 11, 2023, NLCRPD’s Criminal Investigation Division received a cyber tip via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). On March 29, 2023, Jon Leister was charged with two counts of violation of PA Crimes Code 6312(D) Child Pornography Felony 3rd, and one count of violation of PA Crimes Code 7512 A criminal use of communication facility – Felony 3rd.
https://www.mychesco.com/a/news/regional/lancaster-county-man-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-children/ 

▫️Grain Valley police officer charged with child sex crimes
GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. —A Grain Valley police officer is being charged with several child sex crimes after an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 27-year-old August P. Gildehaus faces nine felony charges including Sodomy or Attempted Sodomy in the 1st Degree, Sexual Exploitation of a minor, four counts of Statutory Sodomy in the 2nd Degree, and three counts of Statutory Rape in the 2nd Degree.
https://fox4kc.com/news/former-grain-valley-police-officer-charged-with-child-sex-crimes/ 

▫️Former Police Officer Indicted, Charged with Aggravated Statutory Rape
DYERSBURG – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a former Dyersburg Police officer accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a minor. On February 23rd, at the request of 29th Judicial District Attorney General Danny Goodman, TBI special agents began investigating allegations involving Sharquawn Henderson.  During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that Henderson (DOB: 1/17/94), while employed as an officer of the Dyersburg Police Department, engaged in sexual activity with a juvenile in Dyer County. On April 10th, the Dyer County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Henderson with Soliciting Sexual Exploitation of a Minor by Electronic Means and Aggravated Statutory Rape.
https://tbinewsroom.com/2023/04/11/former-police-officer-indicted-charged-with-aggravated-statutory-rape/ 

▫️WATCH: Armed Dad Detains ‘Peeping Tom’ Suspect In Tennessee Bathroom Until Authorities Arrive
PLEASANT VIEW, Tenn.  — A father of a 7-year-old boy detained an alleged “peeping Tom” in a bathroom until law enforcement officers arrived. Body camera video from the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Department shows the moment when deputies raced into the restroom of a Pleasant View, Tennessee, convenience store Friday. 
https://breaking911.com/watch-armed-dad-detains-peeping-tom-suspect-in-tennessee-bathroom-until-authorities-arrive/        (VIDEO) 

▫️Ex-candidate to face jail in child sex abuse images case
PORTLAND, Maine — A wealthy former Maine gubernatorial candidate charged with possession of images depicting child sexual abuse reached an agreement with prosecutors in which he’ll spend some time incarcerated, a prosecutor said Tuesday. The hearing for Eliot Cutler, who previously pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for May 4 in Superior Court, a court clerk said.
» https://wacotrib.com/ap/state/ex-candidate-to-change-plea-in-child-sex-abuse-images-case/article_8a1aebec-7e7e-5fc6-b4fe-6d82c7b2b6ba.html
» https://www.mainepublic.org/courts-and-crime/2023-04-11/eliot-cutler-to-change-plea-after-being-accused-of-possessing-child-sexual-abuse-images 

▫️Former political operative says he wants DA John Flynn off case, cites “antagonistic personal relationship”
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A former local political operative and Erie County Democratic Chairman says that he wants a special prosecutor assigned to the child sex abuse case against him. Steven Pigeon, through his attorney James Nobles says that he wants a special prosecutor because he thinks he won’t get a fair trial without it. Pigeon, who is accused of sexually abusing a child in 2016, is a former political heavyweight with connections to Democrats on the local, state and federal levels.
https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/former-political-operative-says-he-wants-da-john-flynn-off-case-cites-antagonistic-personal-relationship/         (VIDEO) 

▫️Death penalty allowed for people who sexually abuse children under 12 in new state proposal
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a move that likely would spur a constitutional fight, Florida lawmakers appear ready to pass a proposal that would allow the death penalty for people who commit sexual batteries on children under age 12. The House is scheduled Thursday to take up its version of the bill, while the Senate version was approved Tuesday by the Rules Committee, positioning it to go to the full chamber.
https://www.wcjb.com/2023/04/11/death-penalty-allowed-people-who-sexually-abuse-children-below-12-under-new-state-proposal/

Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!" 

Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug

 

Here is a photo of the DuBois Boulevard during the Flood of 1972. The couple is standing where the Hitching Post is today.

1 hour ago, Pompeii said:

 We are ruled by the most evil people on Earth. 

This interview of Mike Gill tells all and much easier to follow than the one above!!

>> Another must watch <<<

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That video has got to be the MOST EARTH SHATTERING interview I've heard in 2 years.

Please take the time to Watch & Share. If this video doesn't wake them up, nothing will.

I'm pretty sure that @ stevenvoiceover edited this one. 

 

 We are ruled by the most evil people on Earth. 

This interview of Mike Gill tells all and much easier to follow that one above!!

>> Another must watch <<<

This is absolutely the CRAZIEST TRUTH you'll ever hear!!
This guy has all of the receipts ...


Mike Gill -Man On A Mission "Exposing The Entire Money Laundering System of The Deep State"

Patti Smith Because The Night LIVE (OGWT 1978)

 

Blast from the past with these famous DuBois High School teachers. If you went to DAHS in the late 60's, 70's & 80's you'll probably recognize MOST of these GROOVY teachers. (God Bless the teachers who have passed)

Who's in the News?

▫️US Border Patrol Waging War On Cartels With Migrant Stash House Busts
The U.S. Border Patrol is on track to dismantle more cartel-run hideouts in 2023 than last year as it ramps up its war on human trafficking, according to agency statistics. Over the past six months, officers have raided 130 homes, leading to more than 1,800 arrests of illegal immigrants in the El Paso region alone, a spokesman said. That’s more than 232 houses and 2,600 arrests in all of 2022 in the same area. That’s a steep increase, considering that 397 clandestine homes were found along the entire U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal 2020. El Paso, directly on the southern border, remains the top place for immigrant arrests in the entire country.
» https://www.dailybreakingnewsdigest.com/2023/04/10/us-border-patrol-waging-war-on-cartels-with-migrant-stash-house-busts/ 
»

▫️USBP rescues two children near border
According to the United States Border Patrol (USBP) two children were rescued by Douglas Station agents. USBP says a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old boy were abandoned by smugglers at the border near Douglas.
https://www.newsbreak.com/tucson-az/2985979396884-usbp-rescues-two-children-near-border 

▫️Suspect wanted on Nationwide child sex assault warrant arrested in Volusia County
A suspect wanted on a Nationwide warrant for sexual assault on a child under 18 years old was arrested in Volusia County. On Friday, Daytona Beach police arrested 35-year-old Travon Booker in a parking garage across the street from the Ocean Center where there is an ongoing cheerleading competition.
» https://www.wftv.com/news/local/suspect-wanted-nationwide-child-sex-assault-warrant-arrest-volusia-county/RYPIMMXQIRA3ZBI6VORXGKHXVQ/
» https://news.yahoo.com/suspect-wanted-nationwide-child-sex-200933395.html 

▫️15-year-old abducted from North Carolina is found 500 miles from home
A 15-year-old girl abducted from her North Carolina home was found about 500 miles away, officials said. Now, 28-year-old Elijah Deandre Kennedy faces multiple charges in the teen’s disappearance.
https://news.yahoo.com/15-old-abducted-north-carolina-172218439.html 

▫️11 arrested in West Lubbock 'human trafficking operation'
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Lubbock Police Department’s Special Operations Division, Homeland Security, and the Lubbock Fire Department conducted a one-day Human Trafficking Operation on April 6, 2023. The operation resulted in seven felony arrests for solicitation of prostitution, four arrests for misdemeanor prostitution, in addition to the below listed charges.
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/crime/2023/04/10/lubbock-police-arrest-11-in-west-lubbock-human-trafficking-sting/70101158007/
» https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/11-arrested-in-prostitution-sting-with-lubbock-police-homeland-security/ 

▫️North Miami man accused of raping 14-year-old victim of ‘commercial sexual exploitation’
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – A North Miami man appeared in court over the weekend after being arrested on sexual battery and human trafficking charges after police said he assaulted a 14-year-old sold for sex. According to a Miami-Dade police arrest report, in January 2022, Bazelais Metelus, 33, picked the girl up from the area of Northwest 79th Street and 27th Avenue and took her to his home on Northwest 125th Street.
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/04/10/north-miami-man-accused-of-raping-14-year-old-victim-of-commercial-sexual-exploitation/ 

▫️2 men arrested on sexual assault charges in Brookings
BROOKINGS, S.D. — Brookings police have arrested two men following separate sexual assault cases involving children over the weekend. 34-year-old Meyer Lonzano Garrido was arrested for sexual contact with a child under 16. 60-year-old Anthony Caldwell was arrested for sexual contact with a child under 16 and 4th-degree rape.
https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/2-men-arrested-on-sexual-assault-charges-in-brookings/ 

▫️Madison Heights man arrested after children realize they were sexually assaulted years after alleged crimes
MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. - A Madison Heights man is in custody after two children came forward and reported that he sexually assaulted them years ago. Police said the alleged assaults happened in northern Michigan's Missaukee County between 2010 and 2015, but the children did not realize what happened was wrong and did not report 31-year-old Timothy James Edwards until September 2022. Edwards is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (victim under 13) and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct (victim under 13).
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/madison-heights-man-arrested-after-children-realize-they-were-sexually-assaulted-years-after-alleged-crimes 

▫️'HORRIFIC' | Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking, Beating Woman And Torturing Another
NEW YORK – Crown Heights man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, assault and other charges for the alleged sex trafficking and assault of a teenager as well as the assault of a 40-year-old woman. The District Attorney identified the defendant as Samuel Tucker, 39, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
https://breaking911.com/horrific-man-indicted-for-sex-trafficking-beating-woman-and-torturing-another/ 

▫️Lee County jury convicts man for multiple sex crimes against his children
LEE COUNTY, Ala. - A Lee County jury convicts man on multiple charges, including sexual abuse of a child less than 12. According to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office, James ‘Bubba’ McCluskey committed sexual crimes in numerous counties and states for several years.
https://www.wtvm.com/2023/04/10/lee-county-jury-convicts-man-multiple-sexual-crimes-against-his-children/  

▫️San Diego-based human trafficking investigation leads to criminal charges for foreign national
SAN DIEGO — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego-led investigation with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of California resulted in criminal charges against a foreign national accused of human smuggling and sexually exploiting an underage migrant. Cecilio Jimenez-Bautista, 26, of Mexico, appeared in federal court April 6 to face charges that he sexually abused a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor he and his brother guided from Tijuana, Mexico, into the United States in June 2022.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/san-diego-based-human-trafficking-investigation-leads-criminal-charges-foreign

The Exact Moment the United States Congress Took a Knee

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/04/08/the-exact-moment-the-united-states-congress-took-a-knee/

 

ppp

 

Oh by the way ..
 

⚠️JUST IN: Louisiana House Democrats have lost another member to a party switch. State Rep. Jeremy Lacombe has switched to the Republican Party. 

It comes days after state Rep. Francis Thompson gave the House GOP a supermajority by switching parties.

Flashback to 1974 with the DuBois Panther Cheerleaders of the Gateway Midget Football league. I do have a couple girls, I have no names for. If you can help please reply. 😀

Father and son: A.J. Croce performs Jim Croce's music

 

Pastor Bob Joyce Sermons
Descending and Ascending (Sermon 4/9/2023)

This is getting so far out in the Twilight Zone  >> Rod Serling would be proud of this script! 

WAKE-UP!!

 

Here is that article:

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town.

DUBOIS — On a spring day in March 2020, as Pennsylvania teetered on the brink of the COVID-19 lockdown, an anonymous letter arrived at State Police offices.

The letter, signed “Concerned Citizens,” outlined potential wrongdoing by Herm Suplizio, the politically connected manager of DuBois, a small city about two hours northeast of Pittsburgh.

Suplizio, the letter asserted, was directing money from a nonprofit he oversaw to DuBois, where he controlled nearly all government operations — an unusual move that raised questions about its legality.

Now, Suplizio, 62, faces sweeping corruption charges. The Office of Attorney General announced in late March that Suplizio had been arrested for stealing more than $600,000 from public accounts over which he had signatory control. Investigators with that office also allege Suplizio then lied on his tax returns to snag a bigger refund from the government.

The overall scheme was so elaborate, according to the AG’s office, that investigators with extensive backgrounds in organized and financial crimes were brought in to untangle what charging documents describe as a web of money moving in and out of accounts, with little oversight or accountability.

Now, this city of about 7,400 people is left to wonder: If Suplizio is convicted, how could such a large theft occur in a place so small without anyone noticing?

“I want to know what rock that you guys live under,” Ron Trzyna, DuBois’ city manager from 2000 to 2005, told the City Council at its meeting the week after Suplizio’s arrest.

Lawyers for Suplizio did not respond to several requests for comment. He faces 15 criminal counts, including theft and conflict of interest. Among them are six felony charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

In a surprising twist, a key court document in the case against Suplizio is sealed. The document is traditionally made public once charges against someone are announced and provides more detail about a case.

Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office refused to explain the reason for sealing the presentment, even though Suplizio has been officially charged with crimes. Instead, it issued a public statement on the case and then produced an underlying document detailing the charges only after Spotlight PA specifically requested it.

Deep roots
“Best place to work, best place to live.”

So goes the motto for the City of DuBois.

DuBois is surrounded by Sandy Township, which got its name from Sandy Lick Creek, a natural divider of the city flowing from east to west. Early settlers developed the area’s resources — lumber, coal, and rich soil — through the growth of railroads and manufacturing mills. Today, health care, retail, and schools support the local economy, with Penn Highlands DuBois hospital ranking as the biggest employer in Clearfield County.

The city is only one of a handful in Pennsylvania that has adopted an optional form of government known as the “council-manager plan.” It gives an appointed city manager a wide swath of powers over the day-to-day operations of the government.

DuBois’ City Council appointed Suplizio to the city manager’s job in 2010, according to court papers, a position that comes with an annual salary of more than $80,000. He had the power to appoint the chief of police, and decided which employees received raises or bonuses.

So strong was his authority, that the city’s mayor reported to him.

He was also a trusted associate of people with power and wealth.

In 2020, the top Republican in the state Senate, Joe Scarnati, announced his retirement and hand-picked Suplizio to be his successor. “I have personally worked with Herm Suplizio for over 20 years and I know him as a man of his word who cares deeply for our area,” Scarnati, who did not return a request for comment, said in an essay at the time.

Scarnati, a prolific fundraiser, used his political committee to shower Suplizio’s ultimately unsuccessful campaign with tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. So did a former political committee chaired by Peter Varischetti, a member of a politically prominent Western Pennsylvania family that runs a nursing home chain, among other businesses.

Varischetti did not respond to a request for comment.

Scarnati launched a lobbying firm with another member of the Varischetti family after he left public office. DuBois is now one of his firm’s clients — a contract that, under DuBois’ form of government, had to be negotiated by Suplizio.

Even before he became city manager, Suplizio had deep roots in DuBois, serving as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief as well as the mayor for a decade.

When he announced his run for the state Senate, his supporters cited his work in obtaining millions of dollars in state grants and private dollars to revitalize DuBois. From late 2015 to the present, for instance, the city received more than $7.5 million in grants from Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, state records show.

In addition to serving as city manager, Suplizio was the executive director of the DuBois Area United Way, earning an annual salary of $30,000. The charitable organization announced Suplizio’s resignation and the appointment of a new director in the week following his arrest.

He was also, according to the charges, deeply involved in organizing the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department’s premier annual celebration: Community Days.

The much-anticipated two-day event held in June marks the anniversary of the 1888 Great DuBois Fire, which destroyed much of the city and led to the creation of the volunteer fire company. Festivities include food, games, fireworks, live music, and a parade.

It was one of the many hats Suplizio wore, according to the attorney general’s office, that gave him access to bank accounts flush with taxpayer and private money he would use to pay his personal expenses.

According to investigators, Community Days was underwritten both by the city and private donations. Four accounts were used to collect cash or pay for services involving the festival, but they weren’t controlled by the fire department or monitored by city officials.

Law enforcement officials said Suplizio routinely withdrew money from those accounts, diverting tens of thousands of dollars into personal bank accounts, or using them to pay his credit card bill and even to make political contributions — including $3,000 to Scarnati.

Suplizio also used some of the cash from those accounts to reimburse himself for work-related expenses, according to the attorney general’s office; he would then claim those expenses as unreimbursed on his personal taxes to lower his taxable income.

Between April 2014 and June 2019, for instance, the AG alleges Suplizio tapped one of the Community Days-related bank accounts, called the Parade Committee account, to write 15 checks to his Visa credit card account totaling just over $131,000.

Nine of those payments, totaling just over $74,108, were for personal expenses charged to his credit card. Investigators didn’t detail specifically what they say the money bought, but said his personal charges generally included vacations, utility bills, and department store purchases.

The attorney general’s office claims Suplizio also tapped DuBois’ general fund account, as well as the local United Way’s bank account, on the same day in 2014 to make two cash transfers, totaling just shy of $6,000 to his personal savings account.

Neither transfer, investigators said, was associated with an expense reimbursement request by Suplizio.

From 2014 to 2021, Suplizio also received reimbursements from the United Way for mileage and cell phone charges amounting to $2,580 per year, according to the AG; he also was reimbursed for mileage and cell phone charges from DuBois. In both instances, he claimed those amounts as unreimbursed business expenses on his taxes, “essentially triple dipping,” the affidavit of probable cause that describes evidence gathered by investigators in Suplizio’s case said.

Law enforcement officials allege Suplizio separately pocketed thousands of dollars from city contractors.

One example: DuBois sold its water to various companies drilling for natural gas around the city. One of them, EOG Resources, entered into a contract to buy water from the city. But when investigators subpoenaed the company for the contract, they were surprised to learn there wasn’t an official contract. Instead, there were one-page letters from the city, signed by Suplizio, memorializing phone conversations about how much the city would charge per gallon for water.

From 2004 to 2015, EOG made 22 payments, including three checks over $1 million each, according to the AG. Those large checks were made out to the City of DuBois, but stamped and deposited into an “unknown account,” investigators said.

Five payments from EOG were allegedly made directly to Suplizio. The attorney general’s office said copies of the checks note that they were payments for equipment Suplizio was selling to the company, which investigators said amounted to a conflict of interest: He was benefitting personally from a company that he was also negotiating with in his day job as city manager.

Another company, Advance Disposal Systems, had a contract with the city for waste disposal, and paid a quarterly $15,000 administrative fee, by check, to the city for handling its billing, according to the attorney general’s office. Those checks were placed in accounts affiliated with the Community Days event.

But when investigators reviewed several years’ worth of budgets for the event, they said the payments from ADS were penciled in as being much lower, in the $1,000 range.

They also discovered that ADS began paying the quarterly administrative fee six years before the city began handling the company’s billing.

In reality, law enforcement officials wrote in charging papers, those administrative payments were “simply a way for Suplizio to receive ‘kick-backs.’”

ADS was bought by another company, Waste Management, in late 2020. In an email, Waste Management spokesperson Erika Deyarmin said the company is “reviewing our contract with the City of DuBois and has no comment at this time.”

Checks and balances
In theory, checks and balances are baked into the city’s system for tracking finances.

The city’s treasurer and onetime controller, Lisa LaBrasca Becker, and the city’s finance officer, DeLean Shepherd, both testified before a grand jury empaneled by the attorney general’s office to hear evidence in Suplizio’s case. They provided a roadmap for how money coming in and out of city coffers is accounted for.

Bills for city-related expenses pass through the city controller, who reviews them and stamps any corresponding checks and receipts, according to the affidavit. In DuBois, the controller (who is paid $100 every month) does not have an office, and instead receives a call or text when bills need to be reviewed.

The City Council also looks over those expenses and approves them. The finance director then prints the checks, and the treasurer signs them.

The treasurer also tracks all money coming into DuBois’ coffers — which is supposed to be deposited initially into the city’s general fund — and ensures it’s allocated to the correct bank account. The treasurer’s office then generates a monthly report with the most up-to-date balances for each bank account, and any money flowing in and out of them. The City Council then reviews those reports.

LaBrasca Becker testified that she knew ADS had a contract with the city, but had no idea the company was paying a $15,000 quarterly administrative fee. If such payments existed, she said, she should have been made aware of them, so she could include them in her monthly reports.

The city’s auditors review DuBois’ finances annually, but the scope is limited to money flowing in and out of city bank accounts and included on those reports.

LaBrasca Becker said she had no knowledge or oversight over the Community Days bank accounts, and that the accounts weren’t included in monthly reports.

Several witnesses who testified before the grand jury in Suplizio’s case said the Community Days bank accounts were overseen by a separate “parade committee.” Court papers provide no information about who was on the committee, or how the committee approved money flowing in or out of the accounts.

These records are also largely silent on how closely city officials tracked money from city coffers that was paid to Suplizio for his expenses, except to note this: One city official testified that she could not recall an instance where Suplizio submitted any receipts when filing for reimbursement for work-related expenses.

‘Heads in the sand’
City officials have said little since the charges against Suplizio became public in March.

Just a week before Suplizio’s arrest, council members unanimously approved an extension to his contract, two years before it was set to expire in 2025. After Suplizio was charged on March 20, DuBois City Solicitor Toni Cherry released a statement on behalf of the council that appeared supportive of the city manager.

“For over two decades, Herm has served DuBois with a passion and determination that has grown its reputation and profile well beyond that of similar cities,” the statement to radio news station WPSU said. “We are committed to ensuring integrity is maintained within DuBois city government, which, we believe epitomizes Herm’s tenure as city manager.”

Suplizio remained in his city job for a few days before the City Council abruptly changed course and placed him on paid leave.

He will continue receiving his “base salary pay,” interim City Manager Chris Nasuti told Spotlight PA, but Suplizio “does not have access to the city building, systems, or networks and is not being contacted or consulted regarding city business.”

The City Council also voted to rescind the contract extension for Suplizio.

City officials are “hiding their heads in the sand and saying, ‘We didn’t know anything,’” said Trzyna, the former city manager.

Trzyna told Spotlight PA he was “not well-liked” in that position because he raised questions about fire department spending. He said he left the job in 2005 with “some ill feelings on my part.”

He believes DuBois officials had a role in enabling Suplizio’s alleged wrongdoings because oversight of city finances was essentially nonexistent.

Trzyna is concerned that the disappointing handling of the allegations by DuBois officials so far would jeopardize the city’s ongoing consolidation with Sandy Township. DuBois and Sandy Township officials have pitched the consolidation as a way to reduce overlap of government services between the two municipalities and to attract new businesses.

The consolidation was approved by voters in 2021 — with a razor-thin margin of 1% among Sandy Township voters — after three failed attempts in previous decades. Suplizio is a member of the consolidation committee and chairs the subcommittee on fire services.

“The City’s fiscal status was a driving issue in the consolidation effort, and if some of the City’s revenues were misdirected and funds misspent, we must learn how it affects the assumptions underlying the consolidation analysis,” Sandy Township Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Kevin Salandra, a key figure in the consolidation effort, wrote in a statement.

Sandy Township called for an independent investigation of DuBois’ financial accounts and for “anyone at the City involved in this deception and impropriety to step aside.” Nasuti told Spotlight PA in an April 6 email that a forensic analysis of the city’s finances is underway with help from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The township said it hasn’t decided “whether and under what conditions the consolidation may be called into question.”

Tension rose briefly during the March 27 council meeting, when a DuBois resident disputed Trzyna’s public comment that council members should face resignation, arguing that Suplizio is innocent until proven guilty.

“You don’t know what it’s going to be at the end, but you’re all hanging him already,” the person said.

“Herm has done a lot of good things for the city of DuBois,” Trzyna told Spotlight PA. “But I think it all went to his head and [he] said, ‘I can do whatever I want to do.’ And we as city residents and taxpayers [are] just as much at fault as the government.

“I fault them because they didn’t oversee things. But I also fault all the citizens in the city of DuBois, and myself included, that we … never questioned.”

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https://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2023/04/10/47-million-in-small-amounts-of-money-donated-to-democrats-apparently-without-the-donors-knowledge-n2621731

https://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2023/04/10/47-million-in-small-amounts-of-money-donated-to-democrats-apparently-without-the-donors-knowledge-n2621731

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