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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > January > 06
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ruscigno gets probation, fine
Joseph Ruscigno — former GOP operative and nightclub owner, and husband of former Butler County commission candidate Rawnica Dillingham — was sentenced to two years probation and a $2,500 fine in federal court in Cincinnati this morning.
Ruscigno pleaded guilty in April to federal tax obstruction charges. He admitted to fudging the books of West Chester Twp.-based court reporting business Fitch Reporting Inc., to justify lowering weekly payments of back taxes to the IRS. Read more background on the case below.
U.S. Judge Herman Weber said in court today that the charges carry a maximum sentence that includes three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
But, because Ruscigno pleaded guilty to his crimes and cooperated with federal prosecutors “in prosecution of other defendants,” the judge said he lowered the sentence.
He did not say who those other defendants were.
When asked if Ruscigno had any statement to make, he quietly said he was 60-years-old and never been in trouble before. “I’m just terribly, terribly sorry this incident happened,” he said.
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Ruscigno sentencing today
Former Butler County GOP operative and husband of failed commission candidate Rawnica Dillingham is due in federal court today for sentencing on tax charges.
Here is the background from a former story:
Hamilton nightclub owner and former GOP politico Joe Ruscigno pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday, April 29, to tax obstruction charges.
Ruscigno admitted to fudging the books of West Chester Twp.-based court reporting business Fitch Reporting Inc., to justify lowering weekly payments of back taxes to the IRS.
The statement of facts to which Ruscigno pleaded guilty said he submitted a false profit and loss statement to the IRS in 2007. Ruscigno owned the company with his ex-wife, Jane Fitch, who was not named in the charges.
Ruscigno also signed a plea agreement offering him the possibility of a reduced sentence if he pleads guilty and cooperates with law enforcement “regarding his activities and those of others in relation to the offense charged…and all other criminal activity of which he is aware,” including, “participating in covert law enforcement activities.”
The charges against him carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 assessment.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Aug. 25. It was originally set for Aug. 5, but U.S. Judge Herman Weber moved the date when Ruscigno said that was his and wife Rawnica Dillingham’s wedding anniversary.
The two own V’s Nightclub in Hamilton, which may lose its liquor license after police raided the business and claim exotic dancers there were violating the city’s adult entertainment ordinance.
The two used to be active in Butler County Republican Party politics, with Ruscigno serving as party finance chairman.
But they had a falling out with the party, culminating in a failed run by Dillingham for county commissioner in the GOP primary last year without party endorsement.
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