Wilkes-Barre city officials dodge questions about federal inquiry
By: Joe Holden
Updated: February 7, 2013
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County- Separated by a five-inch thick plate of glass, Gerard Dessoye repeatedly told Eyewitness News complaints made to the city about L.A.G. Towing were continuing to receive attention from his department and the office of the mayor. Dessoye, the city's police chief, refused to step out from behind the service window inside the police department protected by a bulky frame of bulletproof glass.
Asked about the subpoena, Dessoye responded: "No, I am telling you nobody has given me a subpoena from the FBI. I would suggest you contact the FBI and ask if they served a subpoena."
Neither the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania or the FBI would comment on the existence of a subpoena.
Sources on Tuesday told Eyewitness News a subpoena had been delivered to Wilkes-Barre Police Headquarters. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the document sought records related to L.A.G. Towing and its owner, Leo Glodzik.
L.A.G. has come under an avalanche of criticism and complaints. Mark Robbins, the lead complainant in the several-month dispute with L.A.G., presented Eyewitness News Wednesday afternoon with a letter from U.S. Attorney for the Middle District Peter Smith.
It read: "Our office is in receipt of your letter regarding 'Cars for Cash' in which you ask our office to investigate alleged fraud. I am forwarding your letters to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an independent review and follow-up, if appropriate."
Eyewitness News spoke with Mayor Thomas Leighton (D) when he left city hall for the day. The I-Team's Joe Holden asked, "Do you have a reaction to the FBI looking into this?" Leighton responded: "We have no knowledge of that. So, if you have knowledge, I mean that's the rumor out there, so if there is any law enforcement agency out there looking into this, we would appreciate that information too."
Holden continued, "But you have not personally seen a subpoena or any sort of....?" Leighton said, "Well that information you'd have to get from whoever is doing the investigation."
Leighton would not say if he had seen the subpoena.
Dessoye said if warranted, his office would investigate any potential wrongdoing by L.A.G..
Asked about the subpoena, Dessoye responded: "No, I am telling you nobody has given me a subpoena from the FBI. I would suggest you contact the FBI and ask if they served a subpoena."
Neither the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania or the FBI would comment on the existence of a subpoena.
Sources on Tuesday told Eyewitness News a subpoena had been delivered to Wilkes-Barre Police Headquarters. The source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the document sought records related to L.A.G. Towing and its owner, Leo Glodzik.
L.A.G. has come under an avalanche of criticism and complaints. Mark Robbins, the lead complainant in the several-month dispute with L.A.G., presented Eyewitness News Wednesday afternoon with a letter from U.S. Attorney for the Middle District Peter Smith.
It read: "Our office is in receipt of your letter regarding 'Cars for Cash' in which you ask our office to investigate alleged fraud. I am forwarding your letters to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for an independent review and follow-up, if appropriate."
Eyewitness News spoke with Mayor Thomas Leighton (D) when he left city hall for the day. The I-Team's Joe Holden asked, "Do you have a reaction to the FBI looking into this?" Leighton responded: "We have no knowledge of that. So, if you have knowledge, I mean that's the rumor out there, so if there is any law enforcement agency out there looking into this, we would appreciate that information too."
Holden continued, "But you have not personally seen a subpoena or any sort of....?" Leighton said, "Well that information you'd have to get from whoever is doing the investigation."
Leighton would not say if he had seen the subpoena.
Dessoye said if warranted, his office would investigate any potential wrongdoing by L.A.G..
