Leggio to appear in San Bernardino in campaign contributions case
Upland businessman Mark Anthony Leggio is scheduled to appear Friday in Superior Court for an arraignment on charges stemming from alleged illegal campaign contributions.
Charges against Leggio and three other men -- Nicola Cacucciolo, 63, Nick Vito Cacucciolo, 35, and James Lloyd Deremiah, 52 - were unsealed in June in a 37-page grand jury indictment.
The influential local Republican and co-owner of three Inland Empire car dealerships is charged with pumping more than $50,000 in illegal contributions to state Senate and Assembly races from 2002 to 2006.
Leggio, 44, allegedly made maximum contributions to candidates and then had friends and employees make additional ones that he would reimburse, according to proseuctors.
If convicted, Leggio could face up to six years in state prison, while the other defendants face up to three years, according to prosecutors.
In a separate matter, Leggio has tentatively agreed to settle allegations of campaign contribution violations with the state Fair Political Practices Commission.
The settlement's impact on Leggio's criminal case remains to be seen. Under the agreement, Leggio would pay a $150,000 fine in connection with "a repeated pattern of violations" over a five-year period.
The FPPC is set to consider Leggio's agreement for approval at its Dec. 11 meeting in Sacramento.
From what I understand the Leggio family has always been a very generous family to everyone especially the local children wards of hospitals. What I don't understand is what Leggio had to gain financially from the donation. If there was no financial gain for Leggio lets not victimise him for being republican and generous.
ET Snell
www.sbcountyrecall.com