07-04-2007, 01:32 PM
Check this out....................................
SARASOTA -- Joseph Degregorio was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of sexual battery against a boy.
The verdict came after a seven-day trial that included testimony from the victim, now 16 years old, and three other men who said Degregorio abused them when they were children.
Degregorio, 50, made a fortune running 16 medical laboratories before they were shut down amid a federal fraud probe.
The company, Acculab Laboratories, has now filed for bankruptcy and faces a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging Degregorio bilked the Medicare program of $17 million.
Since being jailed last June, Degregorio repeatedly tried to use his wealth to threaten witnesses and bribe his accuser, promising a life of financial security to those who might help him, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors said the victim was told the verdict over the phone and said, "Oh, thank God."
Detective Chris Iorio, who spent a year working on the case, said Degregorio's ongoing attempts to make the sexual battery charge go away made the case one of the most complex and difficult he has had.
"He was making death threats against cops; he was making death threats against victims," Iorio said. "With his money, you had to take those seriously."
The jury found him guilty of sexual battery against the child when he was under age 12, which carries a mandatory life sentence in prison. He was also convicted of lewd and lascivious battery, but has not been sentenced on that charge.
"For close to 30 years he's been molesting boys. A life sentence is more than appropriate," Assistant State Attorney Craig Schaeffer said.
He still faces separate state charges of sexual battery of a minor, possessing child pornography and intimidating witnesses from his jail cell. He also faces a federal charge related to sexual abuse of a minor.
Prosecutors said they have not decided whether they will continue to pursue those charges.
:D Good job Sgt Iorio. You and your detective do a very hard thankless job that nobody appreciates but the victims you help. Once again your hard work pays off and another scum of the earth is gone to prison for the rest of his life.
SARASOTA -- Joseph Degregorio was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of sexual battery against a boy.
The verdict came after a seven-day trial that included testimony from the victim, now 16 years old, and three other men who said Degregorio abused them when they were children.
Degregorio, 50, made a fortune running 16 medical laboratories before they were shut down amid a federal fraud probe.
The company, Acculab Laboratories, has now filed for bankruptcy and faces a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging Degregorio bilked the Medicare program of $17 million.
Since being jailed last June, Degregorio repeatedly tried to use his wealth to threaten witnesses and bribe his accuser, promising a life of financial security to those who might help him, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors said the victim was told the verdict over the phone and said, "Oh, thank God."
Detective Chris Iorio, who spent a year working on the case, said Degregorio's ongoing attempts to make the sexual battery charge go away made the case one of the most complex and difficult he has had.
"He was making death threats against cops; he was making death threats against victims," Iorio said. "With his money, you had to take those seriously."
The jury found him guilty of sexual battery against the child when he was under age 12, which carries a mandatory life sentence in prison. He was also convicted of lewd and lascivious battery, but has not been sentenced on that charge.
"For close to 30 years he's been molesting boys. A life sentence is more than appropriate," Assistant State Attorney Craig Schaeffer said.
He still faces separate state charges of sexual battery of a minor, possessing child pornography and intimidating witnesses from his jail cell. He also faces a federal charge related to sexual abuse of a minor.
Prosecutors said they have not decided whether they will continue to pursue those charges.
:D Good job Sgt Iorio. You and your detective do a very hard thankless job that nobody appreciates but the victims you help. Once again your hard work pays off and another scum of the earth is gone to prison for the rest of his life.