Rotis behind the wheel of many Hired Trucks
Roti relatives and business partners owned 17 companies -- one of every 10 companies in the program -- that provided trucks to the city until 2004, when a Chicago Sun-Times investigation revealed that the city often paid for trucks that did little or no work. The newspaper linked nine Hired Truck companies to the Rotis then.
Further examination now shows that Roti family members and associates actually owned 17 companies that, together, were paid more than $5.5 million of the $40 million spent on the Hired Truck Program at its peak, in 2003. The Roti-linked companies and what the city paid them in 2003:
Miffy Co. Inc. ($568,613) -- one of three companies owned by the immediate family of Frank M. Roti, a former city asphalt foreman whose company, FMR Leasing, owned all of the trucks used by his family. His daughter, Mary Frances "Miffy" Roti, was the company president. Her mother, Ruth, and sisters Ruth and Theresa were board members. A cousin, Michael F. Roti, was Miffy's lawyer and accountant. The city certified Miffy as a woman-owned business, helping it become one of the busiest Hired Truck companies -- a certification that was later revoked.
Protect Inc. ($447,043) -- owned by Frank M. Roti's son David. Protect provided trucks to the Water Department under former city official Donald Tomczak, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges and told prosecutors he took bribes from David Roti and his father for nearly a decade. Frank Roti replied: "Consider the source."
Devro Construction ($55,278) -- owned by Frank Roti's wife, Ruth.
Karen's Kartage ($485,122) -- owned by Lisa Humbert, the second wife of trucking mogul Fred Bruno Barbara, a nephew of the late alderman. Karen's lost its certification as a woman-owned business in 2004, after Barbara said the company was run by his brother.
Anthony Barbara Trucking ($91,152) -- owned by Barbara's father, Anthony Barbara, who has done business with the city for decades. Anthony Barbara married a sister of the late Ald. Fred Roti. In 1979, the company was accused of overbilling the city for snow removal.
Geri Trucking ($45,280) -- owned by Fred Barbara's mother-in-law, Geraldine Humbert.
Ferro-Ferro Inc. ($121,187) -- owned by Georgeann Ferro, whose son, Russell Ferro, married Fred Barbara's daughter, Josephine.
Chicago Bulk Carriers ($265,026) -- owned by Michael Ferro, Russell Ferro's brother. The Ferro companies also have gotten 11 CTA contracts worth $8.7 million since 2001.
Pacella Trucking Express Inc. ($50,180) -- owned by William Pacella, a Fred Barbara business partner.
Rasmussen Trucking Inc. ($107,895) -- owned by Pacella's nephew, James Pacella. Rasmussen owned the Bridgeport trucking yard used by Miffy, Devro and Protect. Rasmussen once employed the father-in-law of Angelo Torres, the former head of the Hired Truck Program now in prison for taking bribes.
Cushing Transportation Inc. ($79,557) -- owned by James Pacella's brother Anthony Pacella.
Marina Cartage and MAT Leasing (nearly $2 million) -- owned by Michael A. Tadin, longtime friend and former business partner of Fred Barbara. Tadin's uncle Frank Bertucci was a godchild of Barbara's late grandfather -- Roti family patriarch Bruno Roti Sr. Tadin's employees have included Ronald Marasso, a son-in-law of the late Ald. Roti.
Tee-Bert Trucking Inc. ($57,330) -- owned by Tadin's aunt Theresa Bertucci Ropke, a neighbor of the mayor's late mother.
Schadt's Inc. ($504,746) -- owned by Carmen Schadt and her husband, James Gurgone, a former city worker convicted of stealing asphalt. Schadt's leased space from Ferro-DiPiazza Construction, owned by Roti family members Richard Ferro and Thomas DiPiazza. Schadt also leased trucks from Tadin.
STR Enterprises ($194,194) -- owned by James Gurgone's daughter-in-law Rhonda Vasquez Gurgone. STR sublet space from Schadt's.
Bausal Trucking ($403,125) -- owned by William Bausal, a retired city sewer worker. One of his trucks was secretly owned by Nick LoCoco -- a reputed mob bookie and city foreman who decided which trucks got Transportation Department work. Bausal billed the city for LoCoco's truck, then gave the money to LoCoco, court records show. LoCoco was charged in the Hired Truck investigation but died before going to trial.