Friday, April 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Justice Department attorneys insinuated today that Silver State Disposal Service may have retaliated against or tampered with government witnesses whose word helped indict the garbage company on alleged tax violations.
Prosecutor Floyd Miller asked U.S. Magistrate Roger Hunt to admonish Silver State and its employees to abide by the law forbidding such conduct, but he offered no evidence to back up his allegation.
The garbage company, which has a monopoly on trash collection in the Las Vegas Valley, was indicted April 9 on charges of filing false income tax returns from 1990 to 1992.
The government has not indicated the total amount of taxes in dispute, but listed nearly $176,000 worth of personal items, including Jet Skis and Jacuzzis, that were purchased with company funds.
Additionally, Silver State is charged with inflating garbage rates, now $9.70 a month, by including the personal expenditures as company expenses.
Silver State President Joseph Anstett, 62; vice presidents Thomas Isola, 47, and Richard Isola, 57; corporate officer Aldo Lipetti, 70; and employees Craig Carstensen, 43, Carl Carlton Jr., 45, and Frank Meccariello, 58, pleaded not guilty today.
Earlier, the company said it would assist the local governments in reviewing the books to determine whether the Justice Department's allegations would have changed trash collection rates.
The prosecutor's allegations of retaliation, and his request that the seven defendants be released on $100,000 to $250,000 unsecured bond, was met with swift opposition.
"I'm not aware of any evidence (of witness tampering) and I think they're pandering to the press," said Barry Liberman, attorney for Thomas Isola.
"I think the government is being abusive and vindictive," said William Cooper, attorney for corporate officer Aldo Lipetti.
The judge reassured the defense lawyers that he was not accepting the government's allegations without proof. He also refused to order the monetary bond, instead releasing all men on their personal recognizance.
Prosecutors also said they would reveal evidence through a "closed-file policy," which suggests they plan to surprise the defendants with unknown evidence during trial.
Silver State said it will fight the policy.
"I don't think they've got anything up their sleeve," said defense attorney Thomas Green. "I don't think they've got anything."
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