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TRADEMARK TRAFICANT
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Sherry Trolio-DiVito, owner of Trolio Tshirts in Poland her grandson Jerry Beeson, an employee at the shop, and their dog Noodles sport Welcome Home Jimbo shirts they are selling.
Shirt sales reflect Jimbo supporters to a tee
The shop also has hoodies bearing the likeness of the imprisoned ex-congressman.
STAFF REPORT
POLAND — A shop in James A. Traficant Jr.’s hometown is the first to celebrate the ex-congressman’s imminent (maybe) release from federal prison with “Welcome Home Jimbo” T-shirts and sweat shirts.
“We did a couple of dozen at first,” said Tony Trolio, standing in front of a Traficant shirt display Tuesday afternoon at Trolio’s Original T-Shirts, 35 W. McKinley Way. “We’ve sold more than 100 since Monday.”
An ad for the keepsake shirts appeared over the weekend in The Vindicator.
Arrangements were made last month to have Traficant, 67, of Poland, report to Community Corrections Association, a halfway facility on Market Street in Youngstown, on March 9. The convicted felon’s eight-year federal prison sentence expires Sept. 2, and then he’ll serve three years’ supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons typically sends inmates to halfway facilities up to six months before their scheduled prison release date to allow them to transition back into society and reconnect with family.
The prisons bureau last week denied Traficant’s request for another halfway facility, which leaves him with two options — come to CCA in March or stay in prison until September, Richard J. Billak, CCA chief executive officer, has said. He expects to hear sometime this month what Traficant intends to do.
Trolio’s daughter, Sherry Trolio-DiVito (wearing a Traficant sweat shirt), said a lot of orders are coming in by phone. Her son, Jerry Beeson, joked that he’ll wear his Traficant T-shirt every day.
Depending on size and color, T-shirts sell for $10 to $15; sweat shirts are $15-$25. Hoodies are available, too, Trolio-DiVito said.
“He’d come in for shirts and to visit,” Trolio said of Traficant, a longtime friend. “He used to help me coach little Bulldogs football, probably around 1972.”
The T-shirt shop typically sells Poland Bulldog jackets and shirts, with a smattering of other teams represented, but cleared out counter space for Traficant clothing.
When asked what Traficant would think of the shirts, Trolio said: “He’ll take it in stride; he’s easy going. I’ll save one for him.”
Trolio said he had a friend design the shirts, using a likeness of Traficant found on old campaign literature.
“He’s been a friend. I don’t condone what he did, but wanted to show support,” Trolio said. “Most people support him. I think if he ran again he’d get elected.”
Trolio said Traficant did a lot for the area when he was in Congress, such as funding for the Chevrolet Centre and two federal courthouses.
Traficant is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, Minn. In July 2002, he received an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. The House, using the trial transcript, expelled him.
Comments
I'd rather have Jim Traficiant here any day before I'd like to see the thugs wandering around this place.
At least Jim Traficiant contributed to society at some point.
All I can say is after reading this, read Todd Franko's blog about 'Operation Holiday Cheer' and then decide whose likeness should be on tee shirts.
Are you kidding? Only in Youngstown would T-shirts be made to welcome him home FROM PRISON. Come on. Youngstown is better than this.
How much for the dog?
Eeegads, do you really want to wear a t-shirt with his likeness on it? It is a sad commentary on the mentality of people who live here when they are adulating someone returning from prison. Too bad Trolio's & the community aren't touting t-shirts that support our local heros in the military, teaching our children or protecting our cities. What makes me laugh the most? I often read postings from people that live in Poland or the other suburbs who try to act like they are so much above anyone living in the Youngstown city limits. Hmm, looks like criminals live in their "posh" neighborhoods, too. ;)
I see in the background of the photo that these people also sell the ultra classy Youngstown AK-47 t-shirts. Profiteers at any expense. And they wonder why people keep leaving the City...
Jim Traficant was a friend to my family long before he even became sheriff. I do not condone anything wrong that he may have done, but, I do not abandon my friends when they have troubles. Incidentally, there are killers who have spent less time in prison than Jim has. I think his trial was a travesty with all of the unsavory characters who could not kowtow to him enough when he was Congressman, but faced with possible federal indictment, they turned on him like vipers. I am sorry he made the mistake of defending himself--a good lawyer would have demolished those witnesses and forced the feds to prove every element of each crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Apparently, he did some foolish things, but did not deserve the harsh punishment he got. Have you never heard, "Judge not, lest ye be judged"?, and "With whatsoever measure you have meted out, it shall be meted out to you?" In that case, some of you should be fearful of your final judgment. He is still my friend and I will be glad to see him when he returns home.
Wasn't it Traficant that took money from Carabia, because he was conducting his own "sting". Yeah, let's have a parade for him. Give me a break!
It's not like the man murdered anybody. After 8 years, cut him some slack.
The t-shirt is just another symbol of the everlasting circle of death that surrounds the mahoning valley.
Great idea!! If Jimbo hadn't been out of comission all this time, I DO believe things would never have got as bad as they are...he was the ONE stabilizing thread in this community, like it or not.
I have to disagree with Clayor. The problems we are experiencing began in the 80's during Traficant's tenure. Nothing was done to recognize that people graduated from high school, went away to school & never came back (for what?). Traficant was here when jobs in the steel & car industries began to shrink. As a community leader, it was his job to help produce long-term strategic growth with the help of government & business. Our current problems did not happen over night! Let Traficant's inner circle & close friends herald his return but it doesn't bode well for our community to act like his office produced a wealth of good for Youngstown.
Only in Youngstown would someone like Trafficant be welcomed back like the King himself. OMG - it's unbelievable. I'm sure you T lovers will re-elect this crook to yet another office of some sort. You are all insane!!!!!
I can't wait for Jay Williams to royally screw up so you people can complain about someone else sucking as a political figure.
Rocco, I would definitely re-elect him anytime, he is the one who brought the Federal Courthouse to the valley, he is the ONLY one who got Federal Funding for Y-town. He is the one who put his neck on the line when everyone else ran away, he is the only one who got screwed when the rest of the crooks are running free here. He told it like it is and got punished for it.And took his punishment. I doubt that Mr. Dann will be as gracious and as honest when he gets his turn in the barrel.Now that's an embarrassment.
Hmmmmm, funny, I don't remember all those good things he did. Hmmmmm, guess my memory is getting bad.......CRS maybe???
Gee Clay, I give you more credit in your intelligence that to re-elect old Jimbo the con man.
At least the politician "Jimbo" hasn't gotten over 4000 of our best killed, and many more mulitated and maimed for his "daddy's" oil war, like the present politician has. And, that number climbs almost daily. Live with that while you send your sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, etc. over there!
Jim's trouble is the fact that he got CAUGHT, the others haven't.......yet!
That word would be mutilated instead of mulitated.
I think, Wolf, that the war over there is not for oil, but to in essence prevent another 911 from happening over here again. If it were for oil, we could have soundly taken over their oil fields in a heartbeat. These people are fighting for something much bigger than oil. And are doing a great job. See what you get next.....
Oh yea, like the old crap "War for Oil", geez how stupid are these people anyway. If that was the case we would be paying about 45 cents a gallon maybe. Just shows their stupidity.
all you people who would not embrace jim are absolute morons, for one, jim stood up when the steel mills closed, and refused to kick people out of their houses. FACT. 2, there was no evidence presented at his case that was not later said to have been either threatened, or coerced by the FBI. FACT, and 3, he was removed to cleveland so he would have no jury of his peers. FACT. he stood up for the valley. FACT he was eccentric, but helpful. FACT, and to top all that off, his judge had a conflict of interest and should have removed herself because her husband was on the prosecuting team. FACT. show me one fact that he is guilty, just one, and do some research of your own before you open up your mouths and discredit a man who tried to stick it to the man. You wonder why we are so in debt to china?!?! thank the one person he stood up to, Janet Reno, guilty of treason for taking chinese money, FACT, he should be pardoned, and really clean up our government FACT
Hey, Ipaidattention, I totally agree with you, hopefully Mayor Mc has some clout with Bush and WILL get Jimbo pardoned, he deserves it.
Pardon the border agents first.
hey clayor, thanks for the support bud, im hoping jimbo will run cafaro and his cronies out of our government. jim deserves his dignity restored, with time, and the wrong media image, he has been ruined.
Rocco, I am 100% in favor of pardoning the border agents. In fact I signed a petition to Pres. Bush to do just that, which I think everyone who has any sense should sign also. I don't know how to do links, so if anyone knows about that petition, please post the link here, these guys deserve to be freed.
Wow, people are paying for shirts with a convicted felons name on it! What is this town coming too. I know the guy did alot for the area, but he conducted alot of his business using illegal back alley tactics. A crook is a crook, he knew that when he broke the law! I don't think we should be supporting a business trying to profit off a criminal. Something just seems wrong with this wether you like the guy or not.
It is DEFINITELY that "Youngstown mentality" that my "college-educated" daughter and I were talking about just the other day. I am also college educated. She lives in Chicago, Illinois, go figure, no jobs here!!!!! We agreed that IF the felon could run again, the "YOUNGSTOWN MENTALITY" would definitely put him, THE Traficant, in office!! How sad........get an education, people, it is never too late to get out of stupid! Thank you.
Excuse me, aconstituent..but I too have a degree and a more open mind than ..Chicago?????? Did she decide to go from bad to worse? Now that is a city where politics are run openly and honestly and have done so for years!! Maybe you need to get re-educated!