Source: Canoe.ca - May 14th 2009.
A veteran OPP officer is accused of paying off two pals at Bombardier in order to secure lucrative contracts for an aircraft repair company he operates in Mississauga when he's not in uniform.
Sgt. Michael Rutigliano company stole / defrauded millions of dollars from Bombardier. Aero-Rutigliano's company, One Technical Solutions (ATS), has allegedly collected $15 million CDN from the aerospace giant Bombardier in the past several years.
(Rutigliano and his lawyer claim he is a 28-year veteran with "a good record", but this is far from the truth. Rutigliano has a history of being a corrupt cop and has other charges against him, including conspiracy and obstruction of justice in a rape trial for his friend Frank D'Angelo.)
Rutigliano, 49, his business associate, Lynda Viola, 46, and two former employees from Bombardier's Downsview plant, Maurice Clark, 46, and Barry Pierson, 56, were arrested Tuesday after more than two years of investigating.
Det.-Insp. Phil George, of the OPP's criminal investigations branch, said he and his fellow officers stumbled upon the case while probing another matter back in January 2007.
"It's never easy to investigate one of your own," he said outside court, unable to say much else because of a publication ban that was imposed yesterday at a bail hearing for Rutigliano, Clark and Pierson.
The OPP say Rutigliano, who is assigned to their Toronto detachment, and Viola conspired with the two former workers to defraud Bombardier of more than $15 million.
Sgt. Pierre Chamberland said the allegations against Rutigliano involve three distinct incidents and have nothing to do with his duties as a police officer.
ATS -- a mobile aircraft repair and recovery company run by Rutigliano -- not only received contracts with help from the two Bombardier workers, but there was also "some overcharging" going on.
(In other words they were receiving far more money for work than they were supposed to be.)
Rutigliano, of Mississauga, is charged with corruptly giving a secret commission, three counts of conspiracy, laundering the proceeds of crime, fraud over $5,000, two counts of obstructing justice and breach of trust by a public officer.
The officer remains in custody awaiting the continuation of his bail hearing tomorrow.
Pierson, of Thornhill, and Clark, of L'Orignal, are charged with corruptly receiving a secret commission, conspiracy, laundering proceeds of crime and fraud over $5,000. The two men were released yesterday on bail and are expected back in court June 8.
Viola, of Woodbridge, is charged with conspiracy, laundering the proceeds of crime and fraud over $5,000. She was released from custody a day earlier and is also set to appear again June 8.
Bombardier spokesman John Arnone said the company was unaware of the alleged wrongdoing and it's no longer dealing with the business in question.
He said one of the employees left Bombardier last year and the other retired just recently.
One of the two, Clark, is currently listed on the ATS website as the company's president.
Workers at the Satellite Dr. company were unable to comment when reached by phone yesterday.
The OPP is asking anyone with information to call investigators at 1-888-310-1122.
NOTES:
It is believed Frank D'Angelo has been laundering the $15 million defrauded from Bombardier through his company "Cheetah Power Drinks", his music business, his restaurant "Forget About It" and other companies he runs. Frank D'Angelo spends way more on advertising than he actually makes in profits, leading investigators to believe D'Angelo is laundering the money through advertising.
Frank D'Angelo
Frank Sinatra Wannabe, Fraud Artist, Mobster & Rapist
Brewer charged in sex case
SEE THE FULL STORY VIA THE TORONTO STAR - JUNE 20TH 2007.
He's a publicity machine who stars in his own TV ads, fronts a rock band and in two weeks the brewery he owns will seem ubiquitous when the Steelback Grand Prix turns the lakeshore into a raceway. But after the checkered flag is waved, Steelback Brewery president Frank D'Angelo will have another public appearance – this time in a Toronto courtroom where he faces a charge of sexual assault.
Police arrested the 48-year-old bachelor June 9 after receiving a complaint from a 21-year-old woman. She alleges an incident took place on June 3 at the Holiday Inn next to Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The investigator handling the case did not return a call from the Toronto Star. His lawyer, Gary Clewley, said D'Angelo will plead not guilty.
Calling from a charity golf tournament in Ottawa yesterday, D'Angelo ... acknowledged knowing his accuser, he didn't want to elaborate.
D'Angelo, who got his start by selling juices out of a truck, also owns a beverage company with a product line that includes Cheetah Power Surge. The Toronto native enlisted Ben Johnson for a controversial ad in whichthe steroid user raised a can and audaciously proclaimed: "I Cheetah all the time."
Three years ago, D'Angelo bought a fruit-processing plant and microbrewery in Bruce County from billionaire generic-drug maker Barry Sherman, now a business partner.
D'Angelo makes news, whether for his interest in buying sports franchises or for filing a $2-million libel suit against blogger and Ottawa Sun copy editor Neate Seager, although yesterday he said a resolution might be in the works.
Charlie Johnstone, chief executive of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto, said he's pleased Steelback is the title sponsor of Ontario's largest annual sporting event.
NOTES:
Neate Sager was bullied into issuing a retraction and the lawsuit was later dropped.
D'Angelo's spending on advertising did not match his profits. He was spending so much on advertising without any serious profits to show for it. Police suspect D'Angelo may have been laundering money for the mafia.
The rape trial was dismissed after only 1 day in court, despite the judge saying that Frank D'Angelo was "probably guilty".
D'Angelo was later photographed having dinner with corrupt cop Michael Rutigliano, a known member of the mafia, in Frank D'Angelo's private club "Forget About It" which is a mafia-themed restaurant. Also present at the meeting were the two prosecuting lawyers from D'Angelo's rape trial.
The two lawyers and Michael Rutigliano were all fired or placed on suspension. Michael Rutigliano and Frank D'Angelo were charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
The OPP and Attorney Generals Office have not renewed the sexual assault charges against Frank D'Angelo. It is believed Frank D'Angelo has agreed to testify against Michael Rutigliano in exchange for immunity against his charges of rape, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Michael Rutigliano is wanted by Quebec police for defrauding Bombardier of $15 million.
He's a publicity machine who stars in his own TV ads, fronts a rock band and in two weeks the brewery he owns will seem ubiquitous when the Steelback Grand Prix turns the lakeshore into a raceway. But after the checkered flag is waved, Steelback Brewery president Frank D'Angelo will have another public appearance – this time in a Toronto courtroom where he faces a charge of sexual assault.
Police arrested the 48-year-old bachelor June 9 after receiving a complaint from a 21-year-old woman. She alleges an incident took place on June 3 at the Holiday Inn next to Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The investigator handling the case did not return a call from the Toronto Star. His lawyer, Gary Clewley, said D'Angelo will plead not guilty.
Calling from a charity golf tournament in Ottawa yesterday, D'Angelo ... acknowledged knowing his accuser, he didn't want to elaborate.
D'Angelo, who got his start by selling juices out of a truck, also owns a beverage company with a product line that includes Cheetah Power Surge. The Toronto native enlisted Ben Johnson for a controversial ad in whichthe steroid user raised a can and audaciously proclaimed: "I Cheetah all the time."
Three years ago, D'Angelo bought a fruit-processing plant and microbrewery in Bruce County from billionaire generic-drug maker Barry Sherman, now a business partner.
D'Angelo makes news, whether for his interest in buying sports franchises or for filing a $2-million libel suit against blogger and Ottawa Sun copy editor Neate Seager, although yesterday he said a resolution might be in the works.
Charlie Johnstone, chief executive of the Grand Prix Association of Toronto, said he's pleased Steelback is the title sponsor of Ontario's largest annual sporting event.
NOTES:
Neate Sager was bullied into issuing a retraction and the lawsuit was later dropped.
D'Angelo's spending on advertising did not match his profits. He was spending so much on advertising without any serious profits to show for it. Police suspect D'Angelo may have been laundering money for the mafia.
The rape trial was dismissed after only 1 day in court, despite the judge saying that Frank D'Angelo was "probably guilty".
D'Angelo was later photographed having dinner with corrupt cop Michael Rutigliano, a known member of the mafia, in Frank D'Angelo's private club "Forget About It" which is a mafia-themed restaurant. Also present at the meeting were the two prosecuting lawyers from D'Angelo's rape trial.
The two lawyers and Michael Rutigliano were all fired or placed on suspension. Michael Rutigliano and Frank D'Angelo were charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
The OPP and Attorney Generals Office have not renewed the sexual assault charges against Frank D'Angelo. It is believed Frank D'Angelo has agreed to testify against Michael Rutigliano in exchange for immunity against his charges of rape, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Michael Rutigliano is wanted by Quebec police for defrauding Bombardier of $15 million.
Frank D'Angelo removed as Steelback President
FEBRUARY 2007
Frank D'Angelo has been removed at the president of Steelback Brewery and replaced with a 25-year-old...
Ad overspending forces Steelback into bankruptcy protection
Steelback Brewery founder Frank D'Angelo's days as the pitchman for the company's beer could be numbered after Steelback was tipped into creditor protection by its billionaire backer, Bernard (Barry) Sherman, who said spending too much on poorly conceived advertising pushed the upstart brewer to the brink of financial ruin.
Both Steelback and non-alcoholic beverage maker D'Angelo Brands Ltd., have been granted court protection from their creditors by an Ontario judge after running up debts in excess of $120-million to Mr. Sherman's investment company Wasanda Enterprises Inc.
"It was overspending, primarily on advertising. Frank is a great ideas man and he developed excellent products. There is a good base of business there, but he was too optimistic in terms of the return on the commercials and he spent too much on commercials. There is a substantial loss," Mr. Sherman, the head of generic drug giant Apotex Inc., said in an interview.
Steelback and D'Angelo Brands lost a total of $14-million during the four months ended Aug. 31, and had combined sales of roughly $8.5-million, according to the court filing. With revenue of $2.5-million, Steelback spent $5.4-million on sales and marketing during the key summer period and recorded a loss of $5.9-million. D'Angelo Brands, which sells soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages, spent $3.7-million on marketing, posted sales of $6-million and a loss of $8.1-million.
FULL STORY IS AVAILABLE FROM The Globe and Mail.
Note: Sherman's 25-year-old son, Jonathon Sherman took over Mr. D'Angelo's role as president of both companies because D'Angelo was considered to be too incompetent to be allowed to stay in control. The Sherman family also suspected D'Angelo of embezzlement and moneylaundering because of missing funds and botched records.
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Frank D'Angelo has been removed at the president of Steelback Brewery and replaced with a 25-year-old...
Ad overspending forces Steelback into bankruptcy protection
Steelback Brewery founder Frank D'Angelo's days as the pitchman for the company's beer could be numbered after Steelback was tipped into creditor protection by its billionaire backer, Bernard (Barry) Sherman, who said spending too much on poorly conceived advertising pushed the upstart brewer to the brink of financial ruin.
Both Steelback and non-alcoholic beverage maker D'Angelo Brands Ltd., have been granted court protection from their creditors by an Ontario judge after running up debts in excess of $120-million to Mr. Sherman's investment company Wasanda Enterprises Inc.
"It was overspending, primarily on advertising. Frank is a great ideas man and he developed excellent products. There is a good base of business there, but he was too optimistic in terms of the return on the commercials and he spent too much on commercials. There is a substantial loss," Mr. Sherman, the head of generic drug giant Apotex Inc., said in an interview.
Steelback and D'Angelo Brands lost a total of $14-million during the four months ended Aug. 31, and had combined sales of roughly $8.5-million, according to the court filing. With revenue of $2.5-million, Steelback spent $5.4-million on sales and marketing during the key summer period and recorded a loss of $5.9-million. D'Angelo Brands, which sells soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages, spent $3.7-million on marketing, posted sales of $6-million and a loss of $8.1-million.
FULL STORY IS AVAILABLE FROM The Globe and Mail.
Note: Sherman's 25-year-old son, Jonathon Sherman took over Mr. D'Angelo's role as president of both companies because D'Angelo was considered to be too incompetent to be allowed to stay in control. The Sherman family also suspected D'Angelo of embezzlement and moneylaundering because of missing funds and botched records.
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