Mistrial declared in racketeering case
A mistrial was declared yesterday in the federal racketeering trial of two reputed members of a Dorchester gang. Jurors had been deadlocked after four days of deliberation on a charge that the pair were part of an organized criminal enterprise. Prosecutors alleged that Edward Washington, 25, was involved in a September 2000 shooting and Jonathan Hart, 23, was involved in two shootings in 2001, as part of an organized plan by the Esmond Street crew to eliminate members of a rival gang, the Franklin Hill Giants, and to protect its own drug trafficking business. Two codefendants who were indicted in the case, Darryl Green and Branden Morris, will be tried later this year on racketeering and murder charges, and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Archdiocese financial officer to retire
David W. Smith, who as chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Boston has managed the sell off about $200 million worth of Catholic Church property since mid-2003, will retire in July, the archdiocese announced yesterday. Smith, 55, worked at Citibank and in the computer industry before joining the staff of the archdiocese in 1991. He has been chancellor, responsible for the budget, financial management, personnel, and real estate of the archdiocese, since July 2001. Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley praised Smith and named Neal F. Finnegan, a director of Citizens Capital Inc., to head the committee of business, financial, and religious leaders that will recommend a new chancellor.
Candidate vows to reject lobbyist funds
Christy Mihos yesterday vowed to not take donations from lobbyists and state contractors in his campaign for governor. Mihos, a convenience-store magnate and former Turnpike Authority board member, is challenging Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey in the upcoming election, along with Democrats Attorney General Thomas Reilly and Deval Patrick. ''Money has far too much influence over the way elected officials spend their time and their efforts," Mihos said in a prepared statement.
Subsidized-housing screener indicted
A federal grand jury issued an indictment yesterday charging a Brockton woman with accepting cash payments from applicants for subsidized housing. Wanda Mercado, 38, was charged with allegedly accepting cash payments totally $26,000 from applicants for subsidized housing at three Boston buildings she managed, officials said. Mercado was responsible for screening applicants, officials said. She faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for each acceptance of cash.
Students rally for in-state tuition bill
Undocumented immigrant students rallied at the State House yesterday for passage of a bill that would allow them to pay in-state tuition at state colleges. The measure is scheduled to come up for debate in the House today. The students and their supporters argue that the children of illegal immigrants who have graduated from Massachusetts high schools should pay the same tuition as their classmates. The legislation is supported by Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, who sent a letter to lawmakers yesterday urging them to vote for the bill. Governor Mitt Romney and Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey oppose the legislation. (AP)
Owner who freed pit bull faces charges
A homeless Salem man wanted for springing his pit bull from a city animal shelter to rescue it from a court-ordered death was arrested yesterday after he was spotted walking the dog on a Beacon Hill street. Brian Schwab, 22, a former Charlestown resident and now homeless as a result of his allegedly vicious pet, was charged with receiving stolen property over $250, his dog Gabrielle, and arraigned in Boston Municipal Court yesterday. The year-old pit bull had been caged at a Boston shelter since October as she recovered from being shot twice after biting two Boston officers. Schwab allegedly walked into the shelter and freed the animal the day after a judge ordered her put to sleep.
WASHINGTON
Kudos for Menino's healthcare efforts
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was honored last night by federal health officials for his city's efforts to improve medical care for minorities. ''While we have made strides in addressing health care disparities in our city, we know that there is much more to do," Menino said in a statement before a dinner at which he was to receive a ''Director's Award" from the Department of Health and Human Services. ''The real celebration will take place when we can say that health disparities based on race and ethnicity are eliminated once and for all," Menino said.
