JOHN TIERNEY SHOULD FORFEIT ILL-GOTTEN GAINS
(Lynnfield, MA) – Two days ago, United States District Court Judge Patti B. Saris ordered Congressman John Tierney’s brother-in-law, for whom Tierney’s wife Patrice was the bookkeeper, to forfeit $7.7 million of criminally-obtained proceeds. Today, Congressional candidate Richard Tisei called on Tierney to similarly forfeit the full value of any and all gifts and income that the Tierneys received while Patrice Tierney worked for her brother.
“Patrice Tierney was the bookkeeper at her brother’s criminal enterprise, a massive Antigua-based online gambling empire (“Sports Off Shore”). That brother, Daniel Eremian, was just ordered by a federal court to forfeit $7.7 million in criminal gains from Sports Off Shore. His co-defendant, Todd Lyons, was ordered to forfeit $24.5 million in assets,” said Tisei. “Patrice Tierney, by her own account, worked for her brother and received at least $223,000 in ‘gifts’ for her work in the criminal enterprise. Every dime of that money should be forfeited by the Tierneys – now.”
“For years, John Tierney’s wife worked for this massive criminal enterprise. She made tens of thousands of dollars for it. She went to prison for her role,” said Tisei. “John Tierney should immediately give every single dime of that money to a charity. For them to keep the ‘gifts’ that actually constitute income is dishonest and corrupt.”
“In 2010, John Tierney said that he and his wife ‘never benefitted’ from Daniel Eremian’s money. He said that ‘it was her family’s stuff.’ The facts show otherwise. John Tierney has been married to Patrice since 1997. They live together. Like all married couples, they have combined assets,” said Tisei. “It is unbelievable that John Tierney would hide behind his wife and not simply acknowledge that it’s time to come clean and give every dime up. This behavior is well beneath the expectations people have of their Congressman.”
In 2010, federal prosecutors told United States District Court Judge William G. Young that Tierney’s wife received payments of $20,000 to $30,000 a year working for brother Robert Eremian, a federally-indicted fugitive who also worked in the illegal gambling operation. She received at least $250 monthly for payments on a Volkswagen Beetle and cell phone, too.
“In the 2011 trial of Daniel Eremian, prosecutors demonstrated that Patrice Tierney managed the bank account through which at least $10 million was laundered between 2003 and 2009,” said Tisei.
“Mrs. Tierney finally admitted, under oath, that she wrote herself at least $173,047.00 in checks from the account between 2004 and 2010,” said Tisei. “John Tierney’s wife took this money from the criminal enterprise where she worked. She never reported the money as income. Rather, she said – under oath – that she was ‘being appreciated.’ And her husband, who also benefitted from her income, has had nothing to say. That is the height of arrogance and corruption.”
“John Tierney, through income and ‘gifts’ received by his wife through this massive illegal gambling empire, has been defiant. The car sat in their driveway. He and Patrice are married and share resources. The issue today is John Tierney’s dishonesty in not immediately ensuring the return of these ill-gotten gains,” said Tisei.
“It’s time for honesty. Let John Tierney announce that he and his wife will effectively forfeit any and all financial gain that came from her work in the criminal enterprise. Let him donate that money to a charity. He should announce it without delay,” said Tisei.
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Tierney Brother-in-law Ordered to Forfeit $7.7 million in Assets:
http://articles.boston.com/2012-06-13/metro/32195859_1_gambling-ring-saris-bettors
Scope of Sports Off Shore and Trial of Robert Eremian (at which Patrice Tierney testified under oath):
http://bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2011_0919feds_tierney_kins_gambling_ring_took_in_22m
Patrice Tierney admits “gifts” for work under oath – Nov. 2011:
http://www.salemnews.com/local/x229373966/Wife-of-congressman-grilled-over-brother-s-business
John Tierney: “it was her family’s stuff”:
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1305241058/Tierney-adamant-It-was-her-familys-stuff
John Tierney: “I couldn’t tell you if there was 5 dollars or 500 hundred dollars going through there…”
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1305241058/Tierney-adamant-It-was-her-familys-stuff
John Tierney: “I’m not a husband appointed to oversee my wife’s activity. I’m a Congressman. Part of my job is to oversee all the federal agencies, particularly national security and foreign affairs to make sure that taxpayer’s dollars are spent properly.”
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1305241058/Tierney-adamant-It-was-her-familys-stuff
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