Frank Gigliotti
Encyclopedia
Frank J. Gigliotti is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for the 22nd legislative district
. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, and attended South Hills High School and the Carnegie Mellon Managerial School
.
A close ally of former Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri
, Gigliotti was the Special Assistant to Director of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works during the 1980s and served as a board member of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
, also known as Alcosan. He was a Democratic chairman of Pittsburgh's 19th Ward
. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1988. Gigliotti was known as a popular and friendly politician who had the "gift of gab." During his tenure, Gigliotti was known as the House Democratic Caucus' "point man" for the proposed expansion of riverboat gambling.
Over a period of 3 years in the late 1990s, Gigliotti extorted thousands of dollars from government contractors, who had hoped to gain contracts from Alcosan, where Gigliotti sat on the board. In 1998 and 1999, he took $17,100 in bribes in exchange for his influence over the awarding of a sludge
recycling contract. Gigliotti then demanded 10 percent of the profits and then $2,000 a month from the contract. He also extorted plane fare and tickets to Disney World from an Alcosan engineering firm. In 1999, he tried to sell confidential Alcosan bid information to several competing firms. One of those firms included governmental informant
Ernest Smalis, who recorded Gigliotti say, "[Expletive] the people."
In April 2000, he pled guilty to federal extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by United States federal judge
Gustave Diamond
, who said that "Gigliotti treated his political power and influence as a commodity to be sold for personal profit, which he did without restraint or regret." Following the sentencing, the prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney told Gigliotti, "Frank, from everything I've been told, you're a loving father and grandfather. I hope your family carries you through this."
It was later discovered by The Morning Call
that his political committee "Friends of Frank Gigliotti" had paid $3,000 to the Manifesto & Donahoe law firm in contravention of Pennsylvania's campaign finance laws, which states that such funds must be used "for the purposes of influencing the outcome of an election." The Pittsburgh Post Gazette noted that just prior to his resignation, Gigliotti clandestinely inserted "language into a bill to eradicate funding for Pittsburgh City Court." Following his release from prison, Gigliotti took a job as a parking attendant with Alco Parking in Pittsburgh.
Frank J. Gigliotti passed away peacefully on Sunday August 7, 2011 in West Melbourne, Florida. He is survived by his daughter Regina Feeney and her daughter Samantha of Merritt Island Fl., Frank Gigliotti Jr. of Sarasota, Fl., & Christina and Darrell Costellic and their 3 children Toni, Petie and Ryan of West Melbourne, Fl. Formerly married to Joanne (Zitelli) Gigliotti and survived by brothers Anthony Gigliotti, Michael Gigliotti, Sister Theresa Curry, and many nieces and nephews.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
for the 22nd legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 22
The 22nd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Baldwin Township* Castle Shannon* Pittsburgh ** Ward 18 [PART, Divisions 05 and 07]** Ward 19...
. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, and attended South Hills High School and the Carnegie Mellon Managerial School
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
.
A close ally of former Pittsburgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri
Richard Caliguiri
Richard S. Caliguiri was an American politician who served as the mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1977 until his death in 1988....
, Gigliotti was the Special Assistant to Director of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works during the 1980s and served as a board member of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is a Municipal Authority in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that provides wastewater treatment services to 83 communities, including the city of Pittsburgh. Its principal sewage treatment plant is along the Ohio River downstream from Pittsburgh...
, also known as Alcosan. He was a Democratic chairman of Pittsburgh's 19th Ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1988. Gigliotti was known as a popular and friendly politician who had the "gift of gab." During his tenure, Gigliotti was known as the House Democratic Caucus' "point man" for the proposed expansion of riverboat gambling.
Over a period of 3 years in the late 1990s, Gigliotti extorted thousands of dollars from government contractors, who had hoped to gain contracts from Alcosan, where Gigliotti sat on the board. In 1998 and 1999, he took $17,100 in bribes in exchange for his influence over the awarding of a sludge
Sludge
Sludge refers to the residual, semi-solid material left from industrial wastewater, or sewage treatment processes. It can also refer to the settled suspension obtained from conventional drinking water treatment, and numerous other industrial processes...
recycling contract. Gigliotti then demanded 10 percent of the profits and then $2,000 a month from the contract. He also extorted plane fare and tickets to Disney World from an Alcosan engineering firm. In 1999, he tried to sell confidential Alcosan bid information to several competing firms. One of those firms included governmental informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
Ernest Smalis, who recorded Gigliotti say, "[Expletive] the people."
In April 2000, he pled guilty to federal extortion, mail fraud, and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
Gustave Diamond
Gustave Diamond
Gustave Diamond is a United States federal judge.Born in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, Diamond was in the United States Navy Seaman from 1946 to 1948. He received an A.B. from Duke University in 1951 and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1956. He was a law clerk, Hon. Rabe F. Marsh,...
, who said that "Gigliotti treated his political power and influence as a commodity to be sold for personal profit, which he did without restraint or regret." Following the sentencing, the prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney told Gigliotti, "Frank, from everything I've been told, you're a loving father and grandfather. I hope your family carries you through this."
It was later discovered by The Morning Call
The Morning Call
The Morning Call is a daily newspaper based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The newspaper is owned by the Tribune Company, whose other publications include the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Baltimore Sun....
that his political committee "Friends of Frank Gigliotti" had paid $3,000 to the Manifesto & Donahoe law firm in contravention of Pennsylvania's campaign finance laws, which states that such funds must be used "for the purposes of influencing the outcome of an election." The Pittsburgh Post Gazette noted that just prior to his resignation, Gigliotti clandestinely inserted "language into a bill to eradicate funding for Pittsburgh City Court." Following his release from prison, Gigliotti took a job as a parking attendant with Alco Parking in Pittsburgh.
Frank J. Gigliotti passed away peacefully on Sunday August 7, 2011 in West Melbourne, Florida. He is survived by his daughter Regina Feeney and her daughter Samantha of Merritt Island Fl., Frank Gigliotti Jr. of Sarasota, Fl., & Christina and Darrell Costellic and their 3 children Toni, Petie and Ryan of West Melbourne, Fl. Formerly married to Joanne (Zitelli) Gigliotti and survived by brothers Anthony Gigliotti, Michael Gigliotti, Sister Theresa Curry, and many nieces and nephews.
External links
- Frank J. Gigliotti (Democrat) Official PA House profile (archived)