Pubdate: Sat, 23 Oct 1999
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 1999 PG Publishing
Contact:  34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Fax: (412) 263-2014
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Website: http://www.post-gazette.com/
Author: Michael A. Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Note: Staff Writer Jan Ackerman contributed to this report.

WITNESSES SAY SULLIVAN USED HEROIN BEFORE HOLDING COURT

Donald Geraci, reputed head of an extensive cocaine distribution ring in
the Penn Hills area, knew he was in trouble.

So when Geraci, 37, was called in May before a statewide grand jury
investigating his operations, he decided to talk about his relationship
with Springdale District Justice Gigi Sullivan, who he said supplied him
protection in exchange for drugs.

Geraci, of Hamil Road, Penn Hills, bluntly said yes, he was a cocaine
dealer, and one with a powerful ally.

Sullivan had been his friend for about three years, he testified, but
toward the end of the summer of 1997 theirs became a quid pro quo
relationship.

Sullivan, 38, of Maple Street, would use her official position to provide
favors and protection for Geraci's drug operation. Geraci and others would
reward her with heroin, cocaine and prescription drugs such as Vicodin and
Percocet, he said.

Other witnesses provided similar testimony about Sullivan's actions.

They said Sullivan shot up heroin in her chambers before conducting
hearings; that she and others broke into Geraci's used car lot, Cheswick
Auto Sales, and stole a Cadillac; and that Sullivan and others forged a
stolen check for $2,000 and used part of the money to help pay $3,000 she
owed to her heroin dealer.

Some witnesses said Geraci would brag that Sullivan would do anything he
asked. In fact, Geraci used a cellular phone obtained through Sullivan and
listed in the name of "District Justice Donald Geraci," according to
testimony before the grand jury.

Yesterday, in announcing that Geraci, Sullivan and 19 others have been
charged with working for or facilitating Geraci's operations, state
Attorney General Mike Fisher said the cases showed the destructive power of
drugs.

"This shows how corruptive drugs can be, not only to a community but to a
system," Fisher said. He was flanked by state troopers and Penn Hills
police who conducted the two-year probe, which began with Geraci and fanned
out to Sullivan and the others. Geraci's operation brought in a reported $1
million annually, Fisher said.

"It's sad to think this conduct -- criminal conduct -- that is totally
outside the norm would be ascribed to someone elected by the public," he said.

Geraci, who has pleaded guilty to drug-related charges in the past, and
most of the other suspects were arraigned yesterday before Allegheny County
Common Pleas Court Senior Judge Robert E. Dauer.

Geraci was charged with possession, possession with intent to deliver and
delivery of drugs; conspiracy; corrupt organization; bribery in official
and political matters; dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity; arson; and
related offenses.

Sullivan's attorney, Patrick J. Thomassey, said his client was out of town
but would surrender to authorities Monday afternoon. She faces charges of
possession, possession with intent to deliver and delivery of drugs;
conspiracy; forgery; obstructing the administration of law; hindering
apprehension or prosecution; corrupt organization; bribery in official and
political matters; theft by deception; theft; and burglary.

"We knew it was coming," Thomassey said of the charges, "but no one at the
attorney general's office would discuss the case with me. I've been trying
to get somebody in the AG's office to discuss the case with me for a long
time."

Thomassey said he found it puzzling that Geraci, "allegedly one of the
biggest drug dealers," was being used as a witness against his client.

"It seems backwards to me," he said. "There's no question that Magistrate
Sullivan had a prescription drug problem as a result of being prescribed
pills as a result of legitimate injuries.

"She managed to keep a handle on that, with help, but apparently something
happened and she ended up in this position ... These are only allegations.
She maintains her innocence."

In the Nov. 2 election, Sullivan is the Democratic nominee seeking another
six-year term as district justice, a post she first won in 1993. Her
Republican opponent is David Sosovicka of Springdale Borough. The
magisterial district includes Cheswick, Harmar and Springdale Township and
Borough.

District justices, who are paid $55,027 a year, hear and adjudicate summary
matters -- traffic and nontraffic citations. They also hold preliminary
arraignments on all criminal offenses and set bail, issue summonses,
conduct preliminary hearings and issue protection-from-abuse orders. In
civil matters, they have jurisdiction in contracts and torts up to $8,000
in value, handle landlord-tenant disputes and can officiate at weddings.

Sullivan is not an attorney. The only qualifications for the post are that
the individual be 21 years old and reside in the magisterial district for
at least one year. District justices who are not attorneys must take a
month-long course for certification.

In an affidavit, authorities said Sullivan, at the request of Penn Hills
police, signed a search warrant for Cafe Verona, a Penn Hills restaurant
owned by Geraci from which authorities said drugs were distributed.
However, witnesses said she alerted members of Geraci's ring about the
pending search.

Geraci, according to the affidavit, testified that Sullivan would make his
legal problems disappear in her court, be they zoning violations or fines
or arrests for speeding or driving with a suspended license.

Also, on two occasions she tipped him that she had signed search warrants
for police investigating his drug operations and once warned him to stay
out of Cheswick because that department had warrants for his arrest.

Sullivan dropped drug charges against an associate of Geraci at his request
and would cover for him when he would sell cars at Cheswick Auto Sales and
not send in the money or paperwork for taxes, titles and licenses.

On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court stripped Sullivan of all judicial and
administrative duties and responsibilities.

The day before, Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Robert A.
Kelly reassigned Sullivan's cases to Senior District Justice Raymond Casper.

The arson charge against Geraci stemmed from testimony by an informant that
Geraci had purchased a bomb from a man in Pittsburgh in 1998 and intended
to place it in a car owned by Springdale Borough Police Chief Joe Naviglia.

Police later seized the bomb and detonated it.
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