Firm under investigation for employing Bonanno gangster
The city and state are investigating a government contractor for allegedly failing to disclose that a convicted Bonanno family racketeer and accused murderer had held a top position in the company.
The Post reported on Tuesday that Tri-State Employment Services landed $45 million in government contracts since 1996.
But in 2012, company officials filled out government papers without revealing that Neil Messina — busted in connection with a fatal 1992 Brooklyn home invasion the year before — had served as a division president from 1997 to 2011, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was sentenced in 2014 sentenced to an 18-year-prison term.
“The city is reviewing the contracts,” mayoral spokesman Phil Walzak said Tuesday.
The company, which provides temporary worker and consulting services, currently has a contract with the city’s Department of Social Services worth $10.3 million.
There is also another open contract with the state Office of General Services for $300,000.
“We will be asking the state Inspector General and other appropriate law enforcement officials to review the facts in this situation,” said Heather Groll, a spokeswoman from the state agency. “No money has been paid on this contract, and we will ask the state Comptroller’s office to stop any outstanding payments until this matter is cleared up.”
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli blamed the Cuomo administration for the embarrassment.
“The governor removed our review from centralized contracts like this in 2012,” said DiNapoli spokeswoman Kate Gurnett. “We argued against that. As a result, we never reviewed this 2012 contract.”
But Tri-State brass never mentioned Messina’s charges from the year before when they filed state vendor responsibility forms in February 2012. City vendor questionnaires also included no mention of Messina, a source said.
Tri-State president Robert Cassera did not return calls over two days.
The Post reported on Tuesday that Tri-State Employment Services landed $45 million in government contracts since 1996.
But in 2012, company officials filled out government papers without revealing that Neil Messina — busted in connection with a fatal 1992 Brooklyn home invasion the year before — had served as a division president from 1997 to 2011, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was sentenced in 2014 sentenced to an 18-year-prison term.
“The city is reviewing the contracts,” mayoral spokesman Phil Walzak said Tuesday.
The company, which provides temporary worker and consulting services, currently has a contract with the city’s Department of Social Services worth $10.3 million.
There is also another open contract with the state Office of General Services for $300,000.
“We will be asking the state Inspector General and other appropriate law enforcement officials to review the facts in this situation,” said Heather Groll, a spokeswoman from the state agency. “No money has been paid on this contract, and we will ask the state Comptroller’s office to stop any outstanding payments until this matter is cleared up.”
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli blamed the Cuomo administration for the embarrassment.
“The governor removed our review from centralized contracts like this in 2012,” said DiNapoli spokeswoman Kate Gurnett. “We argued against that. As a result, we never reviewed this 2012 contract.”
But Tri-State brass never mentioned Messina’s charges from the year before when they filed state vendor responsibility forms in February 2012. City vendor questionnaires also included no mention of Messina, a source said.
Tri-State president Robert Cassera did not return calls over two days.
http://nypost.com/2015/02/18/nyc-ny-state-to-probe-firm-with-accused-murderer-as-president/
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