Don't mention the mob...

Bernie Kerik [a former member of the Board of Directors of Taser International] doesn't want his alleged mob connections tainting his upcoming corruption trial.

In a White Plains federal court filing, the former NYPD commissioner claims jurors "may be ... prejudiced" if prosecutors are allowed to reveal alleged organized-crime ties to Interstate Industrial Corp., which paid for $165,000 in renovations to Kerik's apartment in the Riverdale section of The Bronx. [LINK] The feds believe that the construction work was a bribe for Kerik to help Interstate win city contracts.

Kerik also wants to keep under wraps the identities of "numerous co-defendants" (*) in the securities-fraud case against Larry Ray [LINK], who was best man at Kerik's 1998 wedding and who introduced him to Interstate owner Frank DiTommaso. [LINK]


* March 2, 2000. Larry Ray is indicted in a stock fraud conspiracy with Garafola and 18 others, including members of the Colombo and Bonnano crime families. [TIMELINE] [LINK]


Six degrees of separation...? Some senior Canadian police leaders, in the course of dealing with stun-gun salesmen, will have been socializing (almost certainly unknowingly) with folks only about two or three steps from the mob [allegedly].

Permission granted in case you feel the need to have a long hot shower right about now.



Background:

Bernie Kerik joined the board of Taser International in spring of 2002.

June 3, 2002 - TASER International, Inc., ... today announced with great pleasure the appointment of former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to the Board of Directors of TASER International, Inc. "We are delighted to have such an outstanding and world-renowned law enforcement professional join our ranks," said Phillips Smith, Chairman... [LINK]

...it is the relationship Kerik has had since the spring of 2002 with Taser International, a Scottsdale, Ariz., manufacturer of stun guns, that has by far been the biggest source of his newfound wealth, earning him more than $6.2 million in pre-tax profits through stock options... [LINK]

11 Apr 2005 - Taser International, a maker of advanced non-lethal weapons, today announced the appointment of former Montana Governor Judy Martz to replace Bernard Kerik, who is resigning from the board to "focus on his consulting business" [LOL]. Controversial former New York police commissioner Kerik had withdrawn his name from consideration to head the US Department of Homeland Security in December 2004, due to the fact he had employed a nanny who was an illegal alien, without paying required Social Security payments. [LINK]

June 30, 2006 - Bernard B. Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner, pleaded guilty today to two misdemeanor charges as the result of accepting tens of thousands of dollars of gifts and a loan while he was a city official in the late 1990's.


Quote of the week (for 10 Dec. 2004): "...there are growing concerns about whether the stun guns are truly as non-lethal as advertised." [LINK] (Published on Friday, December 10, 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle)


Note - Everyone is entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Many of these allegations have not (yet) been proven in court.


Distraction here: "Federal authorities are reporting increased chatter..." [LINK] Bernie, terrorist 'chatter' is not the only thing that Federal Authorities are reporting - LOL.