NEW YORK STATE - TEMPORARY COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, 1978

• NCJ Number: 62381
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 175 pages
• Corporate Author: New York State Cmssn of Investigation
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NUMBER 21 IN A SERIES OF ANNUAL COMPILATIONS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION

Annotation

REPORTS FROM 1978 ON FENCING BY LEGITIMATE BUSINESSES AND POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT PURCHASES OF INSURANCE ARE PRESENTED BY THE TEMPORARY COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Abstract

COMMISSION FINDINGS SHOW THAT OTHERWISE LEGITIMATE BUSINESSMEN ARE MARKETING STOLEN MERCHANDISE ON A LARGE SCALE, INSULATING THIEVES AND PROFESSIONAL FENCES FROM DETECTION AND APPREHENSION. FURTHER, CASE STUDIES AND INTERVIEWS SUGGEST THAT SUCH BUSINESSMEN RUN LITTLE RISK OF PROSECUTION AND IMPRISONMENT, BECAUSE LOCAL LAWS INTENDED TO DETER SUCH ACTIVITIES GO LARGELY UNENFORCED. THE 650 MILLION DOLLARS OF PROPERTY REPORTED STOLEN IN NEW YORK STATE IN ONE YEAR REPRESENTS ONLY A PORTION OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THEFT AND FENCING IN THE STATE. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE LOSS OF SALE REVENUES OR THE INCREASED COST OF DOING BUSINESS WHICH MUST BE PASSED TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE INCOME TAX LOST TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. THE COMMISSION ALSO INVESTIGATED THE ALLEGATION THAT BROKERS WHO HANDLED VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE MAJOR INSURANCE POLICIES FOR THE CITY OF BINGHAMTON AND THE COUNTY OF BROOME SHARED THE COMMISSIONS RECEIVED ON THOSE POLICIES WITH OTHER BROKERS IN EXCHANGE FOR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THOSE BROKERS. COMMISSION FINDINGS SHOW THAT SUCH A SCHEME HAS OPERATED IN BROOME COUNTY AND BINGHAMTON FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES UNDER BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATIONS. EVIDENCE SAMPLES ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT, AND THE APPENDIXES GIVE SUPPORTING DATA AND MATERIALS. (RCB)