Businessman D'Angelo charged with obstruction in widening OPP investigation
Last Updated: Friday, May 15, 2009 | 12:00 PM ET
CBC News
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Flamboyant Toronto businessman Frank D'Angelo has been arrested and charged with obstructing justice in an ever-widening investigation by the OPP.
Earlier this week the provincial force said OPP Sgt. Michael Rutigliano was being charged, along with three others, of defrauding Bombardier of more than $15 million.
It later turned out Rutigliano, a 28-year veteran, also faces charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
There are allegations that Rutigliano, 49, conspired to obstruct justice — specifically in the recent sexual assault case involving D'Angelo and in a high-profile hockey ticket fraud case.
Rutigliano was the manager of the court case management section in Toronto for the OPP.
'Corrupt advantage'
Court documents obtained by CBC News allege that between March 2005 and May 2009 he used that position to gain a "corrupt advantage for his associates charged with offences."
The documents say that between June 2007 and April 22, 2009, Rutigliano conspired with D'Angelo to obstruct justice in D'Angelo's sexual assault case.
D'Angelo, who used to run the Steelback Brewery and was the company's TV pitchman, was acquitted of the sexual assault charges last month.
A 22-year-old woman had accused D'Angelo of grabbing her, stripping her and forcing her to have sex in a hotel room in June 2007. D'Angelo, 50, maintained the sex was consensual.
In his ruling, Justice John Hamilton said he found the evidence of both D'Angelo and his accuser credible but had to decide whether there was reasonable doubt about the charges. But in handing down his ruling, Hamilton added D'Angelo "may be" or was "probably" guilty of the crime.
2 obstruction charges
Police issued a news release Friday, outlining the two obstruction charges against D'Angelo. The release said D'Angelo was charged Friday morning and is to appear at 9 a.m. June 8 in Brampton provincial court.
Rutigliano is also alleged, according to the release, to have helped Georgetown resident Peter Mavroudis "avoid prosecution in Ontario."
Mavroudis ran a company called Prime Ticket Connection and was charged with selling bogus Maple Leaf tickets.
In January, Mavroudis pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to four years in jail.
Listed in one charge as an unindicted co-conspirator is Crown attorney Domenic Basile.
All of the alleged conspirators have denied the charges and none of the charges have been proven in court.
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