Tribune front page story today. Good old Alexi, he'll do anything for a friend. This part is especially rich: Demetris Giannoulias said the bank learned of Giorango's bookmaking and prostitution promotion convictions from a spring 2004 Tribune report detailing those cases.Alexi claims he was a low-level paper shuffler on the deals, yet he traveled to Miami to inspect the hot hotel property Broadway Bank financed where prostitutes entertained business clients of Jaws Giorango. Alexi was elected as a young man to the Illinois State Treasurer post with the endorsement of our President Barack Obama (Business as Usual) because he "knows how money works" and makes "sound investments". Oh, but that's all in the past too. How are things working out for Illinois now? Yet Alexi wants to be our Senator. Kick him out the door.
"But we're a relationship bank," he said. "So somebody comes in and in all his dealings with the bank seem to be on the level, everything makes sense, nothing seems illicit or untoward. Just because somebody gets a bad article written about them there's no reason to say, ‘Hey, listen, I'm going to kick you out the door because you don't win a popularity contest.' We didn't think he was doing anything illegal."
He said he asked Giorango about the convictions and Giorango said, "It's in the past. I don't do that anymore."
Kirk for Senate statement:
Kirk: “Giannoulias Misled Illinois Voters to Get Elected”
“Demetris Giannoulias said the bank learned of Giorango's bookmaking and prostitution promotion convictions from a spring 2004 Tribune report detailing those cases.” – Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2010
“Banks do not perform criminal background checks on their borrowers. If I knew then what I know now, would we have given these loans to these colorful characters? Absolutely not.” – Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Interview, March 3, 2010
Northbrook, Ill. – Congressman Mark Kirk today released the following statement in response to a Chicago Tribune story revealing the Giannoulias family made loans to organized crime leaders despite full knowledge of their criminal background:
“Since 2006, Alexi Giannoulias has falsely claimed that he and his family did not know that Michael ‘Jaws’ Giorango or Demitri Stavropoulos were organized crime leaders,” Congressman Kirk said. “Alexi Giannoulias misled Illinois voters to get elected State Treasurer and continued to mislead voters as recently as last month in an effort to win election as United States Senator. The people of Illinois have a clear choice in this election to change direction and restore integrity to the State of Illinois.”
From Today’s Chicago Tribune:
“The family bank of Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias loaned a pair of Chicago crime figures about $20 million during a 14-month period when Giannoulias was a senior loan officer, according to a Tribune examination that provides new details about the bank's relationship with the convicted felons.
“Broadway Bank had already lent millions to Michael Giorango when he and a new business partner, Demitri Stavropoulos, came to the bank in mid-2004. Although both men were preparing to serve federal prison terms, the bank embarked on a series of loans to them.”
Alexi Giannoulias’ Brother Contradicts Alexi’s Previous Claims:
“Banks do not perform criminal background checks on their borrowers. If I knew then what I know now, would we have given these loans to these colorful characters? Absolutely not.” – Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Interview, March 3, 2010
“Giannoulias denied, even though he went down to Florida to inspect the properties, that he was aware of Giorango’s mob ties.” - Chicago Sun-Times, March 3, 2010
“Demetris Giannoulias said the bank learned of Giorango's bookmaking and prostitution promotion convictions from a spring 2004 Tribune report detailing those cases…He said he asked Giorango about the convictions and Giorango said, ‘It's in the past. I don't do that anymore.’” – Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2010
Alex Giannoulias Downgrades His Role at Broadway Bank:
“Prior to taking office, Giannoulias served as vice president and senior loan officer at Broadway Bank.” – Alexi Giannoulias’ Official Illinois State Treasurer Biography
“I did everything there” – Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Reader, December 3, 2008
“Alexi Giannoulias, who started his professional career at the bank in 2002, said in his statement that he was ‘one of’ the senior loan officers at the bank and was not a member of the loan committee that approved the financing for Giorango.” – Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2010
Michael “Jaws” Giorango Background:
Michael Giorango pled guilty in 1989 of “helping direct a south suburban bookmaking ring that used threats of bombings, beatings and robbery to collect unpaid debts.”1
He was convicted again in 1991 for “additional gambling and tax violations stemming from his role in a separate bookmaking operation overseen by Chicago Heights gambling boss Dominic Barbaro.”2
In 2004 Giorango was convicted of promoting a nationwide prostitution ring called “The Circuit” and he allowed the prostitutes to work out his Lorraine Hotel in Miami, which Broadway Bank financed.3
Demitri Stavropoulos Background:
Stavropoulos was convicted in 2004 of running a multistate gambling ring. He was also convicted in 1994 of explosives possessions charges.4
Stavropoulos was arrested in 1993 in a gambling raid. He was charged with syndicated gambling and obstruction of justice.5
Stavropoulos was actually in federal prison in 2005 when Alexi Giannoulias loaned a business owned by Stavropoulos and Giorago $3.6 million to buy a casino boat marina in South Carolina. His wife had to sign the loan papers for him.6
Stavropoulos was a partner with Giorango in several business ventures that received loans from Broadway Bank.
1 comment:
Declaring Personal Bankruptcy
Nice post.....what a lovely post!!!!
Post a Comment