Larrison gives up turnpike position
After charge filed, he cites ill health
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/30/05
By NINA RIZZO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
Former Monmouth County Freeholder
Director Harry Larrison Jr. resigned Friday from the New Jersey
Turnpike Authority's board of commissioners.
The resignation, effective immediately, was issued two days after Larrison was charged with
accepting at least $8,500 in bribes from two local developers.
County spokesman William K. Heine said Larrison's family asked that his
office make the announcement, which gave Larrison's failing health as
the reason for his resignation. He has advanced liver cancer.
"He wanted to resign because he missed a lot of meetings because of his
cancer treatments," Heine said.
Larrison, 78, of Ocean Grove, was a freeholder for nearly 39 years. He
cited his poor health as the reason for his retirement from the
all-Republican board in December.
Larrison served on the New Jersey Highway Authority, which oversaw the
Garden State Parkway, from 1995 to 2002. He was appointed by then-Gov.
James E. McGreevey to the turnpike's board when the toll roads merged.
Mike Lapolla, executive director for
the turnpike, was not available for comment.
Joe Orlando, a spokesman for the turnpike, said Larrison hadn't
attended a meeting since June 2004. Orlando added that Larrison offered
to resign if his lack of attendance presented a problem, but he was
never asked to step down.
Howard Brownstein, a Union City attorney representing Larrison, said he
didn't know his client resigned from the turnpike authority.
Larrison was issued a criminal
complaint Wednesday that charged him with one count of accepting two
cash bribes from two unnamed developers between 2001 and 2003. If
convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Brownstein said he asked the court to indefinitely delay Larrison's
initial court appearance, which was supposed to be on Friday, because
of Larrison's frail condition. Brownstein said he met with
representatives of the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey on Friday but they
haven't determined a time frame for his client to appear in court.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie,
said his office is pursuing the matter regardless of Larrison's health.
"Harry Larrison is charged, and we
have every intention of prosecution," Drewniak said.
Brownstein, who spent several hours with Larrison on Thursday, said
Larrison contends he is innocent and will eventually plead not guilty.
Sources have said Larrison's former driver, Anthony J. Palughi, is the
unnamed county official listed in the criminal complaint filed against
Larrison. Sources identified the developers as Anthony Spalliero of
Marlboro and his frequent business partner Terry Sherman of Holmdel.
Those three men have not been charged.
When asked how Larrison could have been implicated in this scheme,
Brownstein pointed to Palughi.
"The bag man bagged the money," Brownstein said, adding that Palughi
told the developers that Larrison wanted the money but it wasn't really
he who wanted the money — it was Palughi. "He got the money and put it
in his pocket."
Palughi could not be reached for comment. His wife, Jane, said her
husband doesn't live at their Allaire Road home in Wall anymore.
His daughter, Jane Casagrande, who has a clerical position in Wall
Township government and is an adjunct horticulture professor at
Brookdale Community College, would not comment on her father's
whereabouts. Neither would a woman who answered the phone at the home
of his brother, Michael Palughi, a former Long Branch councilman.
Brownstein said Larrison didn't need the money for Florida vacations,
as alleged in the criminal complaint.
"Harry is a very wealthy man. What does he need $8,500 for?" Brownstein
said. "It makes no sense."
Brownstein said he is not involved in Monmouth County politics and
didn't know Larrison before being hired to represent him.
Brownstein said his client, who has also battled prostate and colon
cancer, is in his final stages of life. Incriminating conversations
with Palughi — recorded in February — occurred while Larrison was
receiving chemotherapy and apparently not very lucid, Brownstein said.
Brownstein said it was difficult to interview his client because he
kept dozing off and eventually took a nap.
Nina Rizzo: (732) 308-7755 or nrizzo@app.com