Philip Giordano
44th Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut
In office
January 1, 1996 – October 15, 2001
Preceded byEdward Bergin
Succeeded bySam Caligiuri
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from the 71st district
In office
January 7, 1995 – November 8, 1995
Preceded byRobert J. Davino
Succeeded byAnthony D'Amelio
Personal details
Born
Philip Anthony Giordano

(1963-03-25) March 25, 1963
Caracas, Venezuela
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Dawn Trovato
​
(m. 1994)​
Children3
EducationNaugatuck Valley Community College
University of Connecticut, Storrs (BA)
Western Michigan University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1981–1985
Criminal information
Criminal statusIncarcerated at FCI, Yazoo City. Due to be released on July 29, 2032.
Conviction(s)
Criminal penalty
  • Federal sentence: 37 years in prison
  • State sentence: 18 years in prison
Details
CountryUnited States
State(s)Connecticut
Date apprehended
July 26, 2001

Philip Anthony Giordano (born March 25, 1963) is the former Republican mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut, and a convicted sex offender. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela, to Italian parents and his family moved to the United States when he was two years old.[3]

A lawyer, former state representative and former Marine (1981–1985), Giordano served three terms as mayor after being elected for the first time in 1995.[4] In 2000, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States Senate, losing to Joe Lieberman.

Early life

Giordano was born in Caracas, Venezuela to Rocco and Olimpia Giordano.[5] He has one older sister and one younger brother.[5] He attended Holy Cross High School, however he wasn't able to graduate with his class in 1981 after getting caught smoking marijuana.[5] He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1981 until 1985.[3] He attended Naugatuck Valley Community College, before transferring to the University of Connecticut. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in political science in 1988.[5] Thereafter, he attended Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.[5] After law school, he worked in the Waterbury corporation counsel's office until 1992.[6] In 2003, his law license was suspended and he was subsequently disbarred from practicing law in the state of Connecticut for 18 years in 2007.[7][8]

Early political career

In 1993, there was a special election in the 71st district of the Connecticut House of Representatives. It occurred after the incumbent, Donald J. Davino, died in a car accident.[9] Giordano lost the election to Davino's son, Robert.[5] After he lost on election night, he had what one onlooker described as "a major meltdown".[5] He ran for the position again the 1994 general election and won.[10] He considered running for the United States House of Representatives against Congressman James H. Maloney in the 1998 election.[11] He also considered running for Connecticut State Treasurer that same year.[12]

Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut

Giordano was elected mayor in 1995, defeating seven-term Democratic Mayor Edward "Mike" Bergin[13] by 52% to 45%.[14] He won reelection in 1997.[15][16] He was reelected to a third term with 53% of the vote in 1999.[17]

During his time as mayor, he claimed to have balanced Waterbury's budget, but prior to his arrest a state oversight board had to intervene as a result of chronic pension underfunding and taking money out of the pension fund to balance the general fund.[18][19][20] On July 18, 2001, Giordano announced he would not seek a fourth term as Mayor.[21] Upon Giordano's arrest in 2001, he was forced to step aside, leaving President of the Board of Aldermen Sam Caligiuri as acting mayor.[22]

U.S. Senate race

In 2000, Senator Joe Lieberman was chosen by Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore to be his vice presidential running mate—and Lieberman also chose to run for a third term to the Senate (Connecticut law permits candidates running for both offices). Having little chance to defeat the very popular centrist Lieberman, few Connecticut Republicans wanted to take him on. Finally, the state GOP settled on Giordano. Lieberman focused on his vice presidential run and refused to show up at debates; Giordano, mostly ignored by the press, received some coverage by debating alone and mocking Lieberman.[23][24] In the end, it mattered little, as voters returned the incumbent to the Senate by a nearly two-to-one margin (63% to 34%).

Criminal history

While investigating municipal corruption,[25][26] the FBI discovered phone records and pictures of Giordano with a prostitute, as well as with her 10-year-old niece and her eight-year-old daughter.[27] In order to save the municipal corruption investigation, Giordano was apprehended by the FBI on July 23, 2001.[28] After he was taken by the FBI, he worked with federal agents to tape various associates making incriminating statements regarding kickbacks in exchange for contracts.[29] A high target on the list was Joseph Pontoriero, president of Worth Construction and associate of the Genovese crime family.[28] A FBI agent testified that Giordano said Pontoriero had wanted to privatize and control a waste treatment plant in the North End of Waterbury.[29] Giordano showed agents cash and suits he received from Pontoriero during his cooperation.[28] Giordano also made calls to Michael Horton, an executive at Northeast Energy Partners.[30] He tried to solicit a $25,000 payment from Horton in return for a $2 million contract to supply gas to the city.[31] However, Horton did not make the payment.[30] The information he gave helped federal officials attain 13 search warrants in the public corruption investigation.[32] In December 2009, Pontoriero plead guilty to one count of giving a gratuity to a public official and one count of willfully failing to provide information to the IRS.[33] He was sentenced to two years of probation.[34]

Giordano was officially arrested on July 26, 2001.[35][36] After his arrest, Giordano was denied bail because the judge deemed him a flight risk and a public danger.[37] During the trial, Giordano took the stand in his own defense.[38][39] During his testimony, Giordano admitted he took cash from Pontoriero and Horton.[40] The Judge referred to his testimony as a disaster.[41][42] In March 2003, he was convicted of 14 counts of using an interstate device,[43] his cellphone, to arrange sexual contact with children.[44] He was also convicted of violating the girls' civil rights. Judge Alan Harris Nevas sentenced Giordano to 37 years in prison.[45] He was credited for 23 months as time served.[46] Shortly after his federal conviction, he returned to Waterbury to face state charges.[47][48][49] He initially plead not guilty.[50][51] In June 2004, a Superior Court judge refused to dismiss state sexual assault charges.[52] In June 2007, he pleaded no contest to the state charges and Judge Joan K. Alexander sentenced him to 18 years in prison that ran concurrent to his federal sentence with credit for time served since his arrest.[53] In January 2004, Giordano filed an appeal on his federal conviction in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[54] His conviction was upheld in March 2006.[55][56] In June 2007, Giordano filed a memorandum to have his sentenced reduced to 25 years.[57] In July 2007 his motion to reduce this sentence was denied by a federal judge.[58] In 2006, Giordano sued the city for back pay resulting from sick days and vacation time.[59] In 2006, Giordano was assaulted by a fellow inmate at Garner Correctional Institution.[60] In 2009, the victims were awarded $8 million each in compensatory damages by a federal judge.[61][62] In 2015, Giordano petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus and certificate of appealability, claiming that his original trial attorney never conveyed the offer of a 15-year plea deal. After a hearing and finding evidence to the contrary, Connecticut District Court judge Stefan R. Underhill rejected Giordano's request.[63][64] In January 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to hear an appeal from Giordano.[65][66][67][68] In July 2020, Giordano petitioned for compassionate release from federal prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[69] In November 2021, Giordano sought a reduction in his sentence, citing teaching classes to inmates and also continuing to help federal authorities including the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation in their efforts to combat organized crime.[70][71][7] In August 2022, his request was rejected.[72][73][74] In January 2023, Giordano filed an appeal against the judge’s denial for early release.[75] In December 2023, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judge’s denial for early release.[76]

Giordano is currently serving his original 37-year sentence at the Yazoo City Medium Security Federal Correctional Institution in Mississippi (inmate #14302-014).[77] Under federal rules, Giordano will serve at least 85%,[78] or 29 years, of his sentence after which time he may be eligible for early release in July 2032 based on good behavior.[79]

In a 2023 interview with the two victims, it was revealed that Giordano has never admitted to the molestation or apologized for his actions.[80]

Personal life

Giordano married his wife, Dawn, in February 1994.[81] They have three children.[3] Dawn lives in Commack, New York on Long Island.[82]

References

  1. ↑ "United States of America, Appellee, v. Philip A. Giordano, Defendant-appellant, 442 F.3d 30 (2d Cir. 2006)".
  2. ↑ "Giordano pleads no contest to state child-sex charges". 5 June 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 "Giordano Bio". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 5 June 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hartford Courant 08 Nov 1995, page Page 44". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Unmasked: The Depravity Within". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 16 April 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Ryan, Bill (1995-12-31). "A Young Mayor Offers Tough Love for Waterbury". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  7. 1 2 "Former Waterbury mayor wants sentence reduced for working with feds; Republican-American". 6 November 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  8. ↑ https://www.jud.ct.gov/attorneyfirminquiry/JurisDetail.aspx
  9. ↑ "Legislator Killed in Car Accident Remembered for Service to Youths". 25 June 1993.
  10. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Connecticut State Representative, District 71 - Nov 08, 1994".
  11. ↑ "AllPolitics - Spotlight: Dem, GOP Tests In Connecticut, Arizona - April 9, 1997". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  12. ↑ "Hartford Courant 11 Apr 1997, page Page 19". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  13. ↑ "Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano Arrested by FBI | the Waterbury Observer".
  14. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Mayor of Waterbury Race - Nov 07, 1995".
  15. ↑ "Hartford Courant 05 Nov 1997, page Page 36". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  16. ↑ "Hartford Courant 05 Nov 1997, page Page 3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  17. ↑ "Our Campaigns - Mayor of Waterbury Race - Nov 02, 1999".
  18. ↑ "WATERBURY'S SELF-INFLICTED WOES". Hartford Courant. 12 February 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  19. ↑ Herszenhorn, David M. (2001-03-07). "Waterbury Aldermen Vote to Ask Connecticut to Take Control of City Finances". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  20. ↑ Zielbauer, Paul (2001-03-09). "House Passes Waterbury Bailout Bill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  21. ↑ "Hartford Courant 19 Jul 2001, page 40". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  22. ↑ "Sam Caligiuri's First Days On The Job He Came Out Of Knee Surgery To Run A Crippled City". Hartford Courant. 12 August 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  23. ↑ Hoffman, Christopher (2000-10-20). "A debate for one". The Middletown Press. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  24. ↑ "For Giodarno the show goes on". October 20, 2000. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  25. ↑ Stowe, Stacey; Ramirez, Anthony (March 1, 2005). "Metro Briefing ; Connecticut: Waterbury: Ex-Official Pleads Guilty". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Metro Briefing ; Connecticut: Bridgeport: Contractor Sentenced". The New York Times. 26 July 2006. p. 7. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  27. ↑ Cowan, Alison Leigh (18 October 2003). "Woman Who Took Children to Mayor for Sex Gets 10 Years". The New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  28. 1 2 3 "One Very Busy Day". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  29. 1 2 "From Mayor To Informant". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 27 April 2003. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  30. 1 2 "GIORDANO'S PERSISTENCE RAISED CONCERNS". Wayback Machine. 30 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "CALLS TRACE GIORDANO'S THREE DAYS OF MYSTERY". Wayback Machine. 22 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  32. ↑ Stowe, Stacey (10 March 2005). "Waterbury Corruption Case Is Moving Forward Again". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Former Worth Construction president pleads guilty to corruption, tax charges". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  34. ↑ "Former Construction Executive Who Spurred Giordano Investigation Sentenced". Wayback Machine. 23 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  35. ↑ Murray, John (August 8, 2011). "Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano Arrested By FBI". The Waterbury Observer. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  36. ↑ "His Honor, Mayor Philip A. Giordano: Vain, Power-Hungry, Sexually Obsessed And Increasingly Reckless". Hartford Courant. 16 December 2001. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  37. ↑ "Mayor Again Denied Bail". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 19 February 2002. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  38. ↑ Apuzzo, Matt (March 20, 2003). "Waterbury Ex-Mayor Speaks in Abuse Trial". Midland Daily News. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Connecticut". June 23, 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-06-23. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  40. ↑ "For A Day, Giordano Trial Turns From Sex To Corruption". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  41. ↑ "Judge: Convicted mayor's testimony a disaster". NBC News. Associated Press. 25 November 2008. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  42. ↑ "Judge calls Giordano's testimony a disaster". Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  43. ↑ "Appeal for Former Mayor in Child Sex Case". The New York Times. 31 January 2004. p. 5. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  44. ↑ Cowan, Alison Leigh (19 June 2003). "Convicted in Federal Court, Waterbury Ex-Mayor Now Fights State Sex Case". The New York Times. p. 8. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  45. ↑ Cowan, Alison Leigh (14 June 2003). "Ex-Mayor Gets 37 Years In Prison for Abusing 2 Girls". The New York Times. p. 6. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  46. ↑ "Giordano's Sentence". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 22 June 2003. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  47. ↑ Cowan, Alison Leigh (2003-06-19). "Convicted in Federal Court, Waterbury Ex-Mayor Now Fights State Sex Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  48. ↑ "nbc30.com - Politics - Waterbury Waits For Giordano's Answer To State Charges". 2004-06-20. Archived from the original on 2004-06-20. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  49. ↑ "Connecticut". Archived from the original on 2003-06-23.
  50. ↑ "Connecticut". Archived from the original on 2003-06-23.
  51. ↑ "Connecticut". Archived from the original on 2003-06-23.
  52. ↑ "Hartford Courant 05 Jun 2004, page 103". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  53. ↑ "Ex-mayor guilty of child sex is sentenced again". NBC News. 5 June 2007. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  54. ↑ "Hartford Courant 31 Jan 2004, page 111". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  55. ↑ "Ex-mayor's sex crime stands". The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  56. ↑ "Record-Journal 04 Mar 2006, page M3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  57. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-ct/legacy/2011/11/23/07-3487-cr_USvGiordano.pdf
  58. ↑ "METRO BRIEFING ; CONNECTICUT ; Bridgeport: Mayor's Sentence Upheld". The New York Times. August 7, 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  59. ↑ Holtz, Jeff (August 27, 2006). "THE WEEK; Imprisoned Ex-Mayor Seeks Waterbury Pay". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  60. ↑ Gorosko, Andy. "Former Waterbury Mayor Assaulted In Prison". www.newtownbee.com. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  61. ↑ "Judge awards $8 million to Giordano victims | Republican American Archives". 17 October 2009.
  62. ↑ "The case of Philip A. Giordano | Republican-American".
  63. ↑ "Giordano v. United States, No. 3:11-cv-9 (SRU), 12-02-2015". Casetext. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  64. ↑ Mayko, Michael P. (4 December 2015). "No new trial for ex-Waterbury mayor". CT Post. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  65. ↑ "Ex-Waterbury mayor takes child-sex abuse case to Supreme Court again". 2 January 2017.
  66. ↑ "US Supreme Court won't hear former Connecticut mayor's appeal in child-sex case". CT Insider. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  67. ↑ "Supreme Court Won't Hear Ex-Waterbury Mayor Giordano's Appeal in Child-Sex Case". NBC Connecticut. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  68. ↑ "Ex-Waterbury Mayor Giordano Loses Again At U.S. High Court". Hartford Courant. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  69. ↑ "Notorious ex-Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano wants an early release from prison because of COVID spread". Hartford Courant. 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  70. ↑ "Imprisoned former Waterbury mayor wants sentence reduced". fox61.com. November 7, 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  71. ↑ "Citing cooperation, former Waterbury mayor seeks to cut prison term". Journal Inquirer. Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  72. ↑ "Judge rejects former Waterbury mayor's request for release from prison". WTNH.com. 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  73. ↑ Eaton-Robb, Pat (15 August 2022). "Judge Rejects Former Mayor's Request for Release From Prison". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  74. ↑ "United States v. Giordano, 3:01-cr-216 (SRU) | Casetext Search + Citator".
  75. ↑ Autuori, Martin (8 January 2023). "Giordano files federal appeal | Republican-American". Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  76. ↑ Matarazzo Jr., Bruno (13 December 2023). "Giordano must remain in prison: Judge denies early release for disgraced mayor | Republican-American". Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  77. ↑ "Inmate Locator". Federal Bureau of Prisons. US Department of Justice. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  78. ↑ "18 U.S. Code § 3624 - Release of a prisoner". www.law.cornell.edu. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 9 August 2023. ' ... a prisoner ... may receive credit toward the service of the prisoner's sentence, beyond the time served, of up to 54 days at the end of each year of the prisoner's term of imprisonment, beginning at the end of the first year of the term, subject to determination by the Bureau of Prisons that, during that year, the prisoner has displayed exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations.' Note 54 days is 15% of a year.
  79. ↑ "A Payback For Nightmares". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 22 June 2003. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  80. ↑ Kramer, Darren (March 1, 2023). "News 8 Exclusive: Victims of former Waterbury mayor open up about what they've endured". WTNH.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  81. ↑ "The Witness". 3 March 2018.
  82. ↑ "Citing cooperation, former Waterbury mayor seeks to cut prison term".
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