Key witness breaks down in court
By: By Meghan Backus
Updated: March 18, 2008
Almost three years ago, Mark Camarata took a plea deal and admitted
his involvement in alleged kickback schemes involving the manipulation of assessments.
On Tuesday, the former Kodak tax accountant, testified in federal court in front of three defendants who, among them, are charged with 56 counts of conspiracy, money laundering and tax fraud.
Jurors learned more about Camarata and how he became involved with one of the defendants, John Nicolo, a former commercial appraiser.
Camarata, 45, says he first met with Nicolo in 1999. He says it was then Nicolo brought up the idea of the kickback scheme, and Camarata says he agreed to take 25 percent of fees he would later pay Nicolo for assessment work. Camarata says no work was ever completed by either party.
The former Kodak employee – currently a free man -- broke down in court when prosecutors asked him why he allegedly agreed to take money from Nicolo.
He said he had a lot of “personal issues” at the time. Camarata separated from his wife for a year and two of his siblings died between 2003 and 2005. Camarata was arrested for his involvement in May of 2005.
”None of the issues make it right,” he said on the stand. “Greed took over.”
“I really can't talk about anything that he said or anything that he will say,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Resnick.
Prosecuters did say they will be questioning Camarata for at least another day.
A defense attorney for Nicolo maintains Camarata is not a credible witness.
”According to the government, he's the heart of their case,” said Nicolo’s defense attorney, Chad Siegel, “so when he falls, their case should fall.”
Former Kodak tax accountant, David Finnman, and Nicolo’s wife, Constance Roeder, are also being tried. Nicolo allegedly paid Roeder money from the schemes, and prosecuters say she never filed the income on her taxes.
Former Greece Town Assessor Charles Schwab has pleaded guilty to being involved in the alleged kickback plot. Prosecuters say he negotiated with Nicolo on several deals, including one scheme involving lowering the assessments on Kodak Park from 2002 to 2005.
