At an upcoming federal trial for Shelton developer James Botti, attorneys for the U.S. government plan to introduce evidence that “Public Official #1” was the center of a large-scale corruption ring in Shelton — and that Botti was just one of several developers involved.
That evidence, according to arguments made by U.S. Attorney Richard Schechter during a pre-trial hearing at U.S. District Court in New Haven Thursday, includes testimony from other developers involved and recordings of Botti talking about the alleged conspiracy.
“Mr. Botti explains it is Public Official #1 at the core,” Schechter said. “He is the hub and Botti is one of the spokes.”
Public Official #1 has been identified in other media accounts as Mayor Mark A. Lauretti, although U.S. attorneys have not confirmed it.
Lauretti has not been charged with any crime. Prosecutors won’t comment on whether any charges are pending, but say an investigation is continuing.
Lauretti Reacts
When reached on his cell phone Thursday evening, Lauretti talked briefly about the allegations of widespread corruption in Shelton.
“I think this whole thing is very unfair to me and to the city,” Lauretti said.
Lauretti questioned why the federal government is spending time and money concentrating on “a successful city” like Shelton when there are larger concerns, such as issues on Wall Street.
When asked whether he was involved in the alleged conspiracy prosecutors outlined in their indictment against Botti, Lauretti responded:
“I’m as interested as everybody else to see all the evidence of all this so-called corruption. I want this trial to be over as much as anybody else. Put it on the table and let’s go.”
Lauretti said he hasn’t commented on the case in the past because it’s hard to respond accurately when he wasn’t at hearings and doesn’t have all the information. He said statements can also be taken out of context.
“People can read into things however they want,” Lauretti said. “When they don’t like someone, this is what they do. I’ve never been attacked for my job performance. It’s always been what a bad person I am.”
Thursday’s Hearing
The hearing Thursday was held for the U.S. attorneys and Botti’s attorney, William Dow III, to argue which evidence and witnesses should be permitted at Botti’s trial, slated to begin March 8.
Botti has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the citizens of Shelton, bribery of a public official and mail fraud.
U.S. attorneys claim Botti offered gifts and money to public officials in Shelton in order to get development projects approved.
Judge Charles S. Haight did not decide on anything Thursday, but said he would issue a “very prompt ruling,” on the motions and follow up with more detailed reasoning afterward.
Why Bring Up Public Official #1?
The charges are against Botti, not Public Official #1.
Aside from Botti’s father and the city building official, no one else has been charged for the alleged corruption.
But Schechter said the testimony about Public Official #1 will help the government establish that at least one of Botti’s statements about his own involvement in criminal activity was true.
Schechter said Botti was recorded saying he could expose the corrupt activities of 17 developers in Shelton — and much of City Hall.
“It goes to show when Mr. Botti makes a statement that this is happening — he’s right,” Schechter said.
The move by the U.S. attorneys is an attempt to stave off the defense’s plan — that Botti exaggerates.
“If Jim Botti told you it was Feb. 10 and you went back to your office and the calendar said Feb. 10, you should tear up your calendar,” Dow said as an example of Botti’s track record.
Possible Witnesses
Dow has indicated he wants to call character witnesses to testify to Botti’s bombastic nature.
During the hearing Thursday, the two sides argued whether that should be allowed.
Dow argued that allowing the defense to call character witnesses is “significant because his [Botti’s] statements are the bedrock of the government’s case.”
But Schechter argued against the idea, saying witnesses’ opinions about past statements — not the statements in question — will not be relevant.
Schechter challenged Botti to take the stand to talk directly about those statements.
“If he wants to tell people that when he said X, Y, and Z, he was boasting, there’s a way to do that: Take the stand,” Schechter said.
Vanessa Inzitari contributed to this report.
