Pubdate: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 1999, New Haven Register Contact: http://www.ctcentral.com/cgi-bin/w3com/start?ctcentral+FrontPage Forum: http://www.ctcentral.com/ Author: Stan Fisher SEIZED HOUSES HEADED TO AUCTION The Monaco family's Branford and Guilford homes, seized by federal authorities for their role in a multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme with convicted drug trafficker James Monaco, will be sold at auction Wednesday, the U.S. Customs Service said Tuesday. James Monaco, 79, his 72-year-old wife, Mary, and their son, David, 38, were sentenced almost a year ago to prison terms ranging from 5 to 6 BD years for conspiring with their son and brother, James, in a money-laundering scheme that hid the origins of cash, property, and vehicles. A sister, Linda DeMaio, 46, and her husband, Michael, 44, also were convicted for their part in the operation. James "Jimmy" Monaco, 50, is serving a 55-year sentence in Illinois on federal drug trafficking charges from Florida. Monaco is said to have recruited his parents, brother, and a sister in a plan to conceal more than $2 million in profits from his drug importing and distribution racket. In addition to criminal charges, the Monacos were sued in civil court by federal authorities. New Haven attorney John R. Williams, whose office represented the Monacos in the civil case, said the homes are being sold are being sold as a result of a settlement of that suit. A confidentiality agreement covered the details of the settlement, he said. Officials at EG&G Services, which formed a partnership with the U.S. Treasury Department in 1990 to handle the disposal of federally seized property, said the auction will include the ranch-style home at 22 Indian Woods Road in Branford, owned by James and Mary Monaco. The 1,964-square-foot, three bedroom home and half-acre lot, with a tax bill of $3,827 in 1997, will be available for public viewing Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and bidder registration will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. The auction takes place at 1 p.m. at the house. Federal authorities say David Monaco's home at 465 Durham Road in Guilford was built with the proceeds of his brother's drug operation, with safes hidden in the garage floor to hide cash and valuables. The 1,820-square-foot colonial house and .94 acre lot, for which 1997 taxes were $4,221, will be available for viewing Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with bidder registration from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday. The auction takes place at the property at 11 a.m. In both auctions, successful bidders must provide photo identification and a $10,000 cashier's check as a deposit. The proceeds from the auction will go to the U.S. Treasury's asset forfeiture fund, used to support crime-fighting efforts across the nation, EG&G representatives said. Old Saybrook attorney Jeremiah Donovan, who represented the elder Monacos in the criminal trial, said a decision is pending in the appeal of their convictions, argued two months ago in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Monacos initially were confined to separate federal prisons in Fort Worth, Texas, where James Monaco, who suffers from congestive heart failure, underwent a medical evaluation. He since has been transferred to a facility at Fort Dix, N.J. Mary Monaco has been transferred to the same women's prison in Virginia where her daughter, Linda DeMaio, is being held. David Monaco is being held at a minimum-security facility in Pennsylvania. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea