Former Brockton Building Commissioner Faces Corruption Charges

The Brockton Post
BROCKTON--After an investigation which includes recordings of secret meetings, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston has arrested Brockton's former Building Commissioner on charges he orchestrated kickbacks for asbestos removal on the Veteran's War Memorial Building.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael K. Loucks announced today Joseph L. Vasapollo Jr., 66, of Brockton was charged in an indictment with three counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of bribery during an investigation into payments to an unnamed Norwood-based contractor.
Vasapollo appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston this afternoon for an initial appearance on the charges and entered a not guilty plea, said Brandy Donini-Melanson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Donini-Melanson said Vasapollo is expected back in court Oct. 19 for an initial status conference.
Magistrate Judge Leo Sorokin, Donini-Melanson said, ordered Vasapollo released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Vasapollo must turnover his passport and he is restricted to travel within New England.
Donini-Melanson said Vasapollo was directed to turn over any guns to the Brockton Police, but she is unsure if this is a standard order or if Vasapollo owns any firearms.
Donini-Melanson said Vasapollo was arrested this morning at his Brockton home.
The indictment states Vasapollo, who has been on unpaid sick leave since April, directed the contractor to break up payments for the work into installments under $5,000 to avoid city and state contract bidding laws and he alone would be authorized to approve payments.
Vasapollo has been the head of the building department since 2003.
The indictment alleges Vasapollo accepted $4,000 in kickbacks from the contractor and in one excerpt of three secretly recorded meetings is alleged to have insisted they continue the kickback arrangement with new asbestos removal projects, saying they should "keep the flow, and make a couple of bucks on the side."
After the work was completed, the indictment states, Vasapollo approved the city's payment of $15,000 to the contractor.
The city is renovating the war memorial building into a performing arts center.
If convicted on the charges, Vasapollo faces up to 70 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.
A call to Vasapollo's home telephone was unanswered.