Conti speaks out on eve of sentencing

March 06, 2006

BY PAT LITOWITZ
PLITOWITZ@NCNEWSONLINE.COM


The Vita Nuova Club attracted professionals and politicians to its East Washington Street location.

The organization, formerly affiliated with the Sons of Italy, offered its 275-plus members a place for conversation and camaraderie.

"We had city council members. We had county commissioners. We had lawyers. We had police officers (and) state police officers," recalled club treasurer Donald "Ducky" Conti.

Members brought in their preferred alcoholic beverages. A buck or two would buy a beer from the honor bar. And for entertainment, there were the poker machines.

"Every club and every bar has them," the 50-year-old Conti said of the machines. "We knew the legalities of it."

In July 2004, a raid on the club resulted in charges against Conti and four others.

Conti, who serves on the Lawrence County Housing Authority, questions the motivation for the operation.

"Somebody had it in for the club, and they got us on (paying out) $38.50."

Conti entered into a plea agreement Jan. 18 involving charges of illegal gambling devices and illegal sale of liquor.

He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. March 7 in county common pleas court. In a wide-ranging interview featured on the New Castle News' Web site -- www.ncnewsonline.com -- Conti discusses gambling at Vita Nuova, his battle with multiple sclerosis, the performance of the housing authority's executive director and his friendship with the county's beleaguered treasurer.

Following are highlights of that interview.

*On being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: Conti learned he had the disease in 1999. "I got off my chair and started walking. The next thing I knew my whole left side just went numb like somebody shot me. "It changed my life. Believe me."

*His relationship with his wife, Gloria, who is testifying against her boss and Conti's best friend, Gary Felasco: "It feels terrible. It put a burden on us. "Everything took a toll on her with this happening up at the treasurer's office and, plus, my sickness. "She's the one that had to take care of me."

*A review of Robert Evanick's performance at the housing authority: "I feel he's not doing what he's supposed to be doing." Conti's grade of the authority's executive director -- "closer to a D than a C." "How do you fix anything? You got to start new. "If you get rid of the guy at the top, bring in somebody fresh ... You're only as good as your leader."

*His friendship with Felasco: "As the years went on, we just got closer and closer. "I'll tell you what, he's very intelligent. "He's handled it pretty good for everything that's been pounding on him through the papers, through the media. Everything. He's very strong."

*On his political opponents: "Everybody's got skeletons in their closets. You guys haven't got caught yet. I got caught. "When it happens, I'm going to sit back like you're doing now. You think it's a joke, having your name ... put in the paper and all this? It's not fun. "I have nothing to hide."

Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.