Mystery cloaks private sleuthing of Masilotti

[DoYouEverWonder]

Masilotti was a Palm Beach County Commission chairman who stepped down last week over charges stemming from a federal investigation related to his involvement in land deals.


October 29, 2006

WEST PALM BEACH — More than a year before the FBI began pursuing Tony Masilotti, a private eye code-named "Cobra" told authorities he was shadowing the former commissioner - on land and from the air.

Quizzed by deputies after his cover was blown, Cobra, a licensed private detective named William Staubs, said he sifted through Masilotti's household trash and followed him to the Bahamas. He said he used a helicopter to follow Masilotti's car and hovered over the home of a close friend, developer Bruce Rendina, when Masilotti visited.

<snip>

Although Staubs won't identify his clients, he describes himself as a Broward County-based private eye and fugitive hunter who also had been a building contractor until he filed for bankruptcy in 2003. In a Nov. 15, 2005, tape-recorded interview, Staubs told agents that he had been tracking Masilotti on and off since January or February 2005.

"I was hired to gather information on where he goes, what he does," he said. "They believe he has multiple women, that he's making more money than he says, that he favors certain developers in town. The information was kind of vague, and they said if I was worth my salt, I would find out the who, where and how."

Staubs found information on Masilotti tough to pin down. "The guy is slicker than 50-weight oil," he said. "There's not enough you can rope around him to hang on."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/2006/10/29/m1a_MASILOTTI_102906.html

[demo dutch]

1. 3rd disgraced PB politican in a month. Tony used to be a Dem turned Repug

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Plus the two priests from Palm Beach

that were caught stealing millions.

No wonder Rush Limbaugh likes living there. Seems he has plenty of crooks to keep him company.

[MannyP.I.]

3. The gloves are off I'm naming names

Cobra you did it again. This is the same guy who chased a bail jumping child molester from Naples FL to New Orleans La. Keep up the good work. You know I have your back (way back) just kidding
And as far as Masilotti goes "I have a few things to say".

1 Misuse of County property?
Speeding past marked deputies in county vehicle on his way to conduct personal business.

2 Drug use ?
Can you spell C O D I N E ? Awww my back hurts, get over it you fell off a horse years ago. Get off the drugs.

3 Tony loves the ladies!
His ex girl Rene Desantis S Fla Water Mgt Employee. Hey!! Didn't Tony's wife sell them land?
Kathy Walters WPTV hooking up in the Keys. Too bad you got fired for that.
Laura Vogel of Wellington had a few trips with him to the Bahamas
Did his hair plugs hold up in the water?
You ladies gonna be around when he's broke, homeless and and jail?

4 Whos' got Tony's cash?
Oh that would be Don Brown writer at the Town Crier a.k.a. THE BAGMAN

5 Bruce Rendina
Chummy Chummy with a land developer? Wow that's cool

6 Terry Verner
Isn't he in charge of zoning?

7 Billy Bowman
Come on man you knew what he was about and you rode his coat tails to get richer

What is up the FlA Comminsion on Ethics?
I know they received an email showing a hidden 100k in Tony's name, that was never filed in his Financial Disclosures. 1 of 3 accounts that curiously showed up after his wife sold land to the county.

Detectives and Agents ?
I got to say you tried. How hard I don't know. It wasn't given to you on a silver platter by Cobra and his Investigators. Not only was there no recognition and little pay for the P.I's, you guys just passed on it and took Tony's side. But no hard fealings

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. interesting 1st post

Welcome to DU.