Four people from New York Archdiocese's purchasing agency indicted

Published: 2006-01-05

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A federal grand jury Jan. 5 indicted four former executives or consultants of Institutional Commodity Services, the New York archdiocesan purchasing arm, on multiple charges stemming from alleged fraudulent diversion of more than $2 million from vendors and archdiocesan institutions. Included in the alleged fraud was more than $1 million that the archdiocese's Catholic schools were overcharged for children's school lunches. Vincent J. Heintz, the agency's former general manager, and his wife, Nanette B. Melera, its former food service director, both of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., were indicted. Also indicted were two independent consultants to the agency, Joseph J. DeRusso of Florham Park, N.J., and Michael J. O'Shaughnessy of New York City. All were charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. DeRusso was charged with four counts of tax evasion and he and Heintz were charged with conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, Heintz was charged with one count of making false statements and DeRusso with one count of obstruction of justice.

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