Charges against prominent local auto dealer owner must be refiled
Three perjury charges filed against an influential Republican auto dealership owner must be refiled in a case alleging illegal campaign contributions, a Superior Court judge ordered.
Judge Bryan Foster agreed with the defense Friday that three perjury charges against defendant Mark Anthony Leggio were not specific enough about what was being alleged, officials said today.
Leggio's lawyer, Thomas J. Warwick Jr., could not be reached for comment today.
Charges against Leggio and three other men -- Nicola Cacucciolo, Nick Vito Cacucciolo and James Lloyd Deremiah -- were unsealed in a 37-page grand jury indictment in June.
The defendants are charged with pumping more than $50,000 in illegal campaign contributions to state Senate and Assembly races from 2002 to 2006, according to the California Attorney General's Office.
Leggio allegedly made maximum contributions to the candidates and then had friends and employees make additional contributions that he would reimburse, according to Gary W. Schons, senior assistant attorney general.
The indictment contains 11 felony counts of perjury, filing false statements and conspiracy, and 26 misdemeanor counts of campaign contribution and reporting violations.
If convicted, Leggio could face up to six years in state prison, while the other defendants face up to three years.
The case returns to court Nov. 5.
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