Thursday, March 6, 2014

The Feds have been brought in

From the Daily News:

Thomas Galante, embattled director of the Queens Library, is facing a criminal probe by the FBI, federal prosecutors and the city’s Department of Investigation, the Daily News has learned.

The first sign of the joint probe came Friday when agents for the FBI and DOI suddenly appeared at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica with subpoenas for both Galante and the library’s construction management consultant, Frank Marino, according to a library source.

Marino, owner of Advanced Consulting Corp. in Merrick, L.I., has received contracts to manage 15 Queens Library improvement projects since 2008.

The probe appears to center on how Galante — who received more than $390,000 in salary last year, plus a city-supplied $37,000 sports car — spent millions in taxpayer dollars on various library renovations, a second source said.

Representatives for both the FBI and DOI declined comment. And Queens library officials did not respond to repeated emails and phone calls from The News.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

This guy looks and speaks like a thug. What a creep. We hope that Katz keeps the pressure on this investigation and makes sure that he gives back every penny he stole from the cash strapped library system.

Joe Moretti said...

Why stop here, make visits to every Jamaica local politician and the Queens Borough President's office as well.

If you are going to do it do it right.

Dillon said...

With that pic he's definitely going to be indicted.

It's a trifecta. Of criminals.

Anonymous said...

The entire library board has to be looked at - with a revolving door of the real estate players in the borough something fishy is going on.

Perhaps Ms Katz can explain to the borough why groups like the library, Queens Council on the Arts, etc are almost exclusively the clubs of rich developers, shadowy banks and owners of mysterious businesses

- and where the presence of the disciplines they represent is only covered by one or so 'consultants' that have some knowledge in said areas.

Anonymous said...

The Daily News article shows also in the picture Helen Marshall and Peter Koo standing next to him.

Anonymous said...

The Public Advocate is also an ex officio member of the Queens Library's Board of Trustees, and although Mr. de Blasio apparently didn't take that role seriously, his successor, Tish James, has already gone on record as saying that either she or a senior member of her staff will attend the Board meetings. The walls are closing in on Mr. Galante.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous #4, I absolutely agree!
This is just the beginning but with social media we can accomplish more than in the past and shine the light on these crooks.

Anonymous said...

Great cartoon in today's Daily News by Bill Bramhall.

Anonymous said...

Helen Marshall was out if it for her 12 years as BP. Today she can claim Alzheimer's as her defense...and still collect her $150k annual pension....

Deke DaSilva said...

We hope that Katz keeps the pressure on this investigation

HA HA HA!!!!!

Yes, that paradigm of virtue and integrity - Melinda Katz!!!

Anonymous said...

what does Jimmy VanBramer, Mr Libraries have to say about this

Anonymous said...

Katz is pressing them bigtime. Whatever Van Bramer's doing, he's keeping quiet about it.

Anonymous said...

There's more to this than meets the eye, something big will come of it, I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

ICE should be investigating the QBPL
"New Americans" program. It's a front for illegal immigrants to be given jobs at the Queens Boro Public Library instead of US citizens. Are there any Americans left working at QBPL? Start investigating the purchase of Chinese books and materials, then start with the same of the Russian and Somali materials.

Get rid of every single QBPL Board Members, wipe the slate clean and get new ones. Put a LIBRARIAN on the board for godsakes.

Anonymous said...

Did Galante even visit the Queens Libraries affected by Hurricane Sandy?