In this space I'll try to add some perspective to the local media scene in Buffalo.
Kernwatch.com has already posted the shocking history of political charlatan Charlie Flynn. I've railed against real estate charlatan Frank Parlato (and will be posting the complete history, Real Estate scams 101), and now kernwatch.com will post the increadible ongoing scams of Joe Illuzzi. As I say on every page of this masthead, it's what you do, not what you say you do, that needs watching. Never more so than in the case of Illuzzi.
Bank terrorist ("We've got your family held hostage in their home"), financial scammer and deadbeat dad to the tune of $50,000, it's an impressive committment to ripping people off that should keep everyone vigilant against anything Joe Illuzzi says or does.
I've posted the original story concerning Illuzzi's bank hold-up, below. Also, to publicize his Illuzzi Letter he took out ads in The Buffalo News. Trouble is, he refused to pay for the ads, promting the News to take him to court. Finially, on November 5, 2001, he will reappear in court to further avoid paying $50,000 in back child support and, I assume, any further child support.
March 31, 2002 - Media Watch Update! - Illuzzi new scam to cover even MORE debt?, Ultimate Whora, Blue Dog and Alt.
A former high school senior class president was. arrested Thursday afternoon on a federal charge of robbing the Auburn-Elmwood branch of Manufacturer & Traders Trust Co. of $6500 about 9:30 AM Thursday
Geoffrey Germony, 19, of 499 Delaware Ave., was arrested after a mailman told police Germony, who lived in the area, matched the gunman's description
Also arrested was Joseph Illuzzi, 22, of the same address, accused of driving the getaway car. Both were arraigned Thursday evening before U. S. Commissioner Edmund F. Maxwell, and ordered held in $10,000 bail.
Germony posted $10,000 bail. Illuzzi is being held in lieu of the same bail.
Less Than 6 Hours
Germony was arrested in his apartment less than six hours after the holdup, and Illuzzi picked up two hours later.
James T. Regensdorfer, assistant manager of the bank, told police a man with long dirty blond wig and matching false beard walked into the bank at 785 Elmwood Ave. and sat down at his desk.
The man handed Mr. Regensdorfer a note stating his family was being held hostage by an accomplice at their home on Electric Ave., Lackawanna. The note also said a rifle was trained on him from a house across the street.
The holdup man then displayed a gun in a belt holster and demanded $60,000 from Mr. Regensdorfer.
“We don't have that kind of d money in this bank," the assistant manager said.
Toy Pistol Recovered
Mr. Regensdorfer then went to a teller's cage and gave the man $6500. They shook hands, and the bandit left the bank.
A letter carrier, Joseph Carbo of the Bidwell Station, told investigating, officers at the scene of a man living in the neighborhood who fit the robber's description.
Police said Germony had lived at an Auburn Ave. address near the bank until recently.
Germony was picked up at his apartment at 3:30 PM and taken to the bank for a lineup with five men of similar description. One of the men in the with Germony was a prime suspect police picked up in Elmwood Ave. He was later released.
Others in the neighborhood also gave Germony’s name and description to police. An hour later, armed with search warrants signed by Commissioner Maxwell, police and FBI agents returned to the apartment and recovered $4950 in cash, a holster and green suit similar to that worn by the holdup man.
A toy pistol the size of a 38- a caliber was found in a car the pair borrowed from a girl friend. She was not charged.
A third occupant of the apartment, James Baettle, 20, was questioned but not charged.
President and Tackle
Some of the material was recovered behind a false wall in an unoccupied apartment.
A key to the apartment was found in a garage can.
The owner of the building, David Shatzel, gave authorities $450 he said the suspects had paid him in back rent at 10:30 AM. Police said the remaining $1100 from the loot also was used to pay bills.
Lawmen said two men, answering the descriptions of the pair in custody, purchased a blond beard from one novelty store on Main St. and a blond wig from another store.
Germony told police he is a bartender. Illuzzi said he is a State University of Buffalo student.
Germony was president of his graduating class at Sweet Home Central High School in 1967 and was a tackle on the school's undefeated football team.
He was d,escribed as an "all American" boy by school officials and considered a student leader.
Germony went to Syracuse University for one year on a football scholarship.
