QUESTIONABLE CALLS

FYI...
According to information on its home page, "Jeannie in a Bottle" was founded on Oct. 5, 2001. As of yesterday, there were 4,128 members of the group.

Its Web address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeannieinabottle/.

The group also uses a second Web site, http://www.geocities.com/jeanfun4all/.

As of yesterday, the Web site was still in service.


PAT LITOWITZ
and DEBBIE WACHTER MORRIS

A cell phone number used to give directions to an adult-oriented party is assigned to the Lawrence County treasurer's office, a New Castle News investigation reveals.

County records confirm that phone number (724) 651-5772 is used by county Treasurer Gary F. Felasco and until last week was paid for by the county.

The Internet group, "Jeannie in a Bottle," announced plans for a "small, private party" to take place on March 27. A News employee, who joined the group using an assumed identity, received an invitation to the event.

A subsequent e-mail to The News employee on March 25 outlined directions to the party location and the rules of etiquette to be followed. A $10 donation was requested. The e-mail also advised the reader to call (724) 651-5772 for additional information.

That was one of two cell numbers assigned to Felasco along with two phones for his use in the county treasurer's office. The other cell phone number is (724) 651-4277. Felasco returned his cell phones to the county March 30.

Felasco said he transferred the numbers to his own personal cell phone account. He would not comment Tuesday on what prompted him to give back the county phones.

"Jeannie in a Bottle" is a group found on the Yahoo Web site. It features more than 200 photos. Many are sexually explicit, ranging from frontal nudity to sexual intercourse.

The operator of the group goes by the Yahoo ID of jeanfun4all and signs correspondences using "Jeannie." Her adult Yahoo profile shows an undressed woman from the neck down.

It states that she is 36, married and lives in Ohio/Pennsylvania. This person's identity has not been verified.

According to the group's description, "Jeannie" hosts private parties on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

"The Party is invite only," the statement continues. "It is interracial we have 5 cpls confirmed so far and Im sure we will get more.

"We will have single males both white and black. Single males are more than welcome but the Number will be limited due to size of rooms."

A review of the group's message board shows 12 such parties were publicized from September 2003 to January 2004.

The News learned in early March of the Web site.

A News employee, whose identity has not been revealed, exchanged a series of e-mails with the group's operator, jeanfun4all. The purpose of the e-mails was to obtain an invitation to one of the group's events.

Within two weeks of the initial e-mail, the News employee was advised the next invitation-only party would take place at 8 p.m. March 27 in Room 201 at the Days Inn Youngstown North, 1610 Motor Drive Inn, Girard, Ohio.

Along with the invitation, a phone number was supplied to obtain additional information. That number corresponded with the same one that was assigned to Felasco.

A member of The News staff contacted the Days Inn on March 26 and learned that three rooms - 201, 202 and 203 - were reserved under the name of Felasco for March 27. The News also obtained a reservation number for the rooms.

On the day of the event, three members of The News editorial staff traveled to the Days Inn. Once there, a cell phone call was made at 8:32 p.m. to the county treasurer's cell phone number, (724) 651-5772, on the pretense of obtaining directions to the hotel.

A man initially picked up the call. The phone was then passed on to a person answering to the name of Jeannie. After requesting directions, The News employee was told, "Here, talk to Gary."
"Gary" then picked up the phone and provided directions to the Days Inn. A News staffer identified that voice as belonging to county Treasurer Gary F. Felasco.

The call lasted approximately 2 1/2 minutes.

For an hour and 15 minutes, members of The News staff observed activity taking place at Room 201. During that period, seven people entered the room. It was also noted that several other people were peering through the room's curtain, and, at one point, a man was stationed outside of the room door.

A blue conversion van, with a Pennsylvania license of "FELASCO," was parked in the west parking lot of Days Inn. The same vehicle was seen earlier in the day at 1311 Cunningham Ave. in New Castle.

An examination of county records shows the property belongs to Gary F. and Jeannine L. Felasco.

Felasco said Tuesday afternoon he had no idea his cell phone number was being used in e-mails in relation to the Web site.

"Anyone could have obtained it from the county controller's office and used it, because the number was public record at the courthouse," he said.

He said he has not received any calls on his cell phone with regard to the e-mail from people asking directions to a party.

"I don't know why my number would be used in connection with anything like that," he said. "I have no clue."

Implying that people have been playing pranks, he said he also has received fake pictures of himself superimposed in shackles and an orange jumpsuit, similar to those worn at the jail.
He said he also has no knowledge of any Web site called "Jeannie in a Bottle," and that it is not owned by his wife, Jeannine.

"My cell phone shouldn't be on any Web site," he commented.

He resolved after lengthy conversation to ask his solicitor, attorney Ed Leymarie, to look into the matter.

Two News reporters phoned Felasco's wife for comment three times Tuesday afternoon. A woman who answered the phone declined comment the first time, uttered an expletive the second time, and declined comment the third, hanging up abruptly each time.

Copyright (c) 2004, New Castle News