Poughkeepsie Journal

By Michael Valkys
Poughkeepsie Journal

WHITE PLAINS — Dutchess County businessman Herb Redl — charged in February with bribery in an ongoing state and federal probe into Town of Poughkeepsie corruption — had his record wiped clean Wednesday following a deal with authorities.

Redl in June signed a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office that would allow the charge to be dropped in six months if he stayed out of legal trouble. That period expired Dec. 16.

Officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed the charge against Redl had been dropped and the action filed with the federal court clerk Wednesday.

Authorities have declined to comment if Redl is expected to testify in the March trial of former Dutchess County Republican Chairman William Paroli Sr., charged with 16 counts of corruption for allegedly leading a scheme to shake down contractors working at town developments that netted more than $100,000 for Paroli and the GOP over six years.

Redl

Neither Redl nor his attorney, Paul Grand, could be reached for comment after Wednesday’s late-afternoon announcement by authorities.

Redl, 69, of Pleasant Valley, is arguably one of the leading businessmen in Dutchess County. His holdings include The Gables housing development in the Town of Poughkeepsie, Fishkill All Sport and Guardian Self Storage.

Redl is one of six persons arrested in a nearly three-year probe into corruption in the Town of Poughkeepsie. The investigation has led to four convictions, including those of three former town employees.

Redl was arrested in February and charged with bribery for allegedly giving a $1,000 cash bribe to town Assessor David Stokes in August 1998 in return for Stokes’ leaving some of Redl’s properties off the tax rolls.

According to court papers, Stokes later contacted authorities and helped set up a sting in which he and Redl discussed the payment while authorities recorded the session.

Stokes could not be reached Wednesday.

Paul Grand, Redl’s attorney, said in June the agreement with authorities does not call for Redl to testify.

Paroli attorney Andrew Rubin said he did not know if Redl would be a witness against his client.

‘‘I haven’t been provided with that information,’’ Rubin said.

Paroli said he was glad the charge against Redl was dropped.

‘‘I’m happy for Herb,’’ Paroli said when asked if he was worried that Redl might testify against him. ‘‘There’s nothing that Herb could testify against me. We’ve always had a good relationship ... He’s a really decent guy.’’

According to court papers filed by FBI Special Agent James J. O’Connor, Stokes told Redl during a 1998 conversation that he was nervous about the payment in which Redl allegedly left 10 $100 bills for Stokes inside a newspaper at a local diner.

Redl, in a conversation taped by authorities, tried to reassure Stokes and said ‘‘unless you’re wired ... it can’t be tracked.’’

Authorities claimed in court documents that the payment was to reward Stokes for saving Redl about $6,500 in taxes he would have had to pay on The Gables property.

The tax bill was reduced because the assessment on the property was decreased by $190,000 after Stokes omitted seven homes from the tax rolls, court documents indicate.

The omission has since been corrected.

Nephew a potential witness

Herb Redl is the uncle of Poughkeepsie Town Attorney Frank Redl, who is listed as a potential government witness in Paroli’s upcoming trial.

In other Town of Poughkeepsie matters, the sentencing of a former New York Trap Rock salesman snared by the state and federal probe was postponed until June.

Andrew Ceroni of Hyde Park pleaded guilty in September to one count of perjury for lying to the grand jury in the case. He admitted in court he attended a 1996 meeting where Paroli and former town Assessor Basil ‘‘Bill’’ Raucci demanded a cash bribe from a contractor and later lied under oath.

Ceroni was to be sentenced Dec. 29. He faces up to five years in jail and fines up to $250,000.

Raucci — described in court papers as Paroli’s ‘‘foot soldier’’ in the shakedown scheme — died in 1997.