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Now indicted, he's been the go-to guy Joe Moderski, a consultant for businesses, Is charged
In an airport fraud scheme. Often behind deals, he is charged In scheme By George Anastasla and John Shiftman INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS
He's the quintessential Philadelphia deal maker - the guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. Joe Moderski, Indicted yesterday in the City Hall corruption probe, has built a career out of knowing people • corporate executives, state and local elected officials, movers, shakers, mobsters, and a controversial Muslim cleric. He makes introductions and smoothes the way for companies that want government business - for a consulting fee. Federal authorities now allege that at least one of his deals violated the law. Moderski, 68, was charged along with three others In a scheme to defraud a business client at Philadelphia International Airport. The four submitted phony paperwork to disguise the true source of $30,000 in donations to a campaign fund controlled by political power broker Ronald A. White, the charges say. White died In November 2004. Moderski's attorney said he did nothing wrong, and nothing that he hasn't been doing for years. 'He provided business advice, the same as he does to a lot of corporations and individuals," lawyer Will Spade said. With his flowing white hair and long, bushy beard, Moderski looks like a cross between Santa Claus and Fidel Castro. For the last several years, he has lived In Bryn Mawr, but his speech and attitude still echo his South Philadelphia roots. When he was on top of his game - before news of the wiretaps and the corruption Investigation - he'd often be found holding court at the saloon or the Fitzwater Cafe, two restaurants not far from the neighborhood around Second and Christian Streets where he grew up. Moderski appeared on the FBI's radar screen early In the government corruption probe, according to FBI documents. Even thought his public service apparently began and ended with his appointment as chairman of the Ice Skating Rink Advisory Board In Haverford Township In the late 1980s, he had for years been a friend of those with political clout. During the corruption investigation, he was recorded in wiretapped conversations with White; with Imam Shamsud-dln All, who was convicted last year of racketeering and corruption charges; and with James Tyrrell, the deputy director of aviation at the airport. Moderski's name came up several times during All's trial. Last April, one lawyer asked the case's lead FBI agent, Jesse Coleman, if Moderski had been indicted. 'Not yet," Coleman replied. The airport investigation Is not over. Yesterday's Indictments are the first round in what could be a series of charges related to contracts for advertising, parking, maintenance and restaurant and vending services, according to sources familiar with the Investigation. Moderski figures in several of those deals, sources said. White, who was Indicted In the first round of corruption charges more than a year ago, died before trial In a case that resulted In the convictions of former City Treasurer Corey Kemp, two bankers, a businessman, and White's girlfriend. By the time Moderski's wheeling and dealing for city contracts turned up on federal wiretaps, he was already well known to FBI agents In Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mob boss Ralph Natale, who became a government witness, said Moderski had suggested a billboard deal to him in the mid-1990s. Moderski, In an Inquirer Interview two years ago, said Natale had some of the details wrong, but he acknowledged that he had tried to develop several "legitimate" business deals for the mob boss whom, he said, he had known growing up In South Philadelphia. None of the deals ever happened, Moderski said, In part because of Natale's lack of business acumen. 'Joe Moderski did do some marketing plans for Ralph Natale, but they were for legitimate businesses," Spade said. "If Ralph Natale went into Genuardi's to buy food, would they turn him away?" The FBI in New Jersey questioned Moderski In May 2003 about the billboard business, then the focus of a political corruption Investigation Involving dose aides to Gov. Jim McGreevey. Moderski at the time offered an endorsement of the mayor and his administration, saying "street Is honest because he is not politically indebted to anyone," according to an FBI memo. Five months later - Just three days after the City Hall probe came to light, with the discovery of listening devices in Street's office • the FBI questioned Moderski again, In a restaurant near the airport. This time, Moderski described a more politicized Street. Among other things, he told Investigators that White had bested top mayoral aide George Burrell in a "power struggle" at the airport, with Street siding with White, a memo of that interview said. Moderski said that White "runs the airport" and that airport director Charles Isdell had been Instructed by the mayor to deal with White rather than Burrell. Isdell "does whatever White wants," the FBI memo quoted Moderski as saying. But he also said he believed that Isdell and Tyrrell made decisions based on what was "good or bad* for the airport. Last week, Isdell, through an airport spokesman, referred questions about Moderski to the city Law Department. The Law Department in turn referred questions to Mayor's Office spokesman Joe Grace, who said the administration Is cooperating fully with Investigators. Street, who has not been charged with wrongdoing, yesterday said he knew nothing about Moderski or the other three Indicted. He said he was not familiar with the airport deal In the indictment, but said the city's contracting procedures In general are 'absolutely aboveboard." Moderski told the FBI he worked primarily at the airport where "he meets people and serves as a broker for potential business deals." But, just as with Natale, Moderski said his dealings with Street's allies were disappointing. Both White and All were better at bragging about their connections than actually delivering business, he complained. Records indicate that Moderski and All started a business to recover cash from bad checks given to various city agencies. The collection business never got off the ground. Moderski was also present during a meeting at the Saloon where All and labor leader Sam Staten discussed using a demolition company to seek city contracts. All and Staten formed Clear Alley Inc., a demolition company, but never received any city work. Also at the meeting, which was monitored by the FBI, was reputed Scranton-Wllkes-Barre mob boss William "Big Billy* D'Ella. Moderski later told the FBI he thought D'Ella wanted to use the business deal to extort cash from All and Staten, describing the meeting "as an effort [by D'Ella] to shake them down," according to the memo. Spade, Moderski's attorney, said his client has never gotten a contract at the airport because of his alleged connections. Moderski wanted to open coffee shops called "Papa Joe's," but was turned down, he said. Without mentioning the coffee-shop proposal, Moderski also told the FBI that while White had made him "lots of promises," none of them came through, according to the memo. In the wiretaps, though, Moderski Is full of bravado. In several calls, Moderski gave Tyrrell Instructions: Write this memo recommending that company, for Instance, and call that person and tell him everything was approved. "Love you," he ended an Oct. 2, 2003, call. On Oct. 9, 2003, two days after the bug was discovered, Moderski and Tyrrell discussed the Investigation. "They can come after me If they want," Moderski said, according to a source. "1 haven't done anything wrong." Contact staff writer George Anastasla at 856-779-3846 or ganastasla9phlllynews.com. Inquirer staff writer Marda Gelbart contributed to this article. Illustration/Photo: APRIL SAUL / Inquirer Staff Photographer Joseph Moderski surfaced early on In the City Hall corruption probe, according to FBI documents. His attorney says that he has done nothing wrong and that he provided business advice. Joe Moderski Is charged In a scheme to defraud a client.
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