European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 28, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 6 a the stars and stripes sunday july 28, 1991 . Urged Florida to let Bocci stay open letters hint Washington apr the Justice department apparently tried to keep the scandal marred Bank of credit and Commerce International operating in Florida last year so the department could use accounts for undercover operations according to congressional documents released Friday. House banking committee chairman Henry a Gonzalez a Texas said he found it a incredible a that the department would allegedly pressure Florida comptroller Gerald Lewis a to keep open a crime infested financial the documents Are somewhat contradictory but if indeed they were an attempt at pressure they failed. Lewis ordered Bocci to close its Florida operations in March 1990 and seized $15 million of its assets after the institution admitted laundering drug Money through its Tampa office. The Florida closure became final last january. The banking committee released copies of two letters written to Lewis by Charles s. Saphos chief of the narcotic and dangerous drug Section of the Justice departments criminal division. In the first letter dated feb. 13, 1990, Saphos asked that by Cir a License to operate in Florida be renewed in part because Bocci had agreed in a plea bargain to cooperate a in certain a we Are therefore requesting that Bocci be permitted to operate in your jurisdiction with the understanding that certain accounts May be maintained by the Bank at the request of the department of Justice which otherwise would be closed to avoid Legal and regulatory violations a he added. He wrote that Bocci might be asked to open accounts for people being investigated for alleged crimes. Lewis wrote Back after the first letter that the Bank a License to operate in Florida would expire on March 14, 1990, and added a because Bocci has pled guilty to felony charges the ultimate decision of renewal becomes a difficult Lewis requested a meeting with Saphos. Two Days later however Saphos wrote a second letter saying that he was not requesting Florida to renew the Bank a License and took no position on the Issue. Justice department spokesman Doug Tillett said Saphos a did not intend to try to influence the comptroller to keep the Bank open and said he wrote the second letter to Clear up misunderstandings conveyed in the first letter which he said was a in artfully written. Dreaded sight the Denver Boot the heavy wheel Locking Gadget reared by so flaw motorists across the country is being seen More and More frequently in Chicago As the City tries to collect on outstanding parking tickets. Any chicagoan who has ignored five or More tickets May get a Nasty Surprise the device locked onto a wheel on his or her car. The Only Way to get someone like City employee Norm Lane above to take it off is to pay the tickets. Ins to restrict adoptions in Romania Washington apr immigration authorities moved Friday to restrict the adoption of romanian babies by americans saying that Only orphans or abandoned children will be allowed to enter the United states after aug. 15. After that Date authorities generally will not Grant Legal exceptions the immigration and naturalization service said. Such exceptions have allowed nearly 177 romanian children to come to the United states. Under Federal Law Only abandoned children or orphans who Are adopted by americans can enter the country on immigrant visas. However in order to Cope with the flood of adoptions the ins allowed the 177 children into the county even though they had parents in Romania spokesman Duke Austin said. The Agency is reviewing requests to bring in another 20 babies he said. Since the december 1989 revolution in Romania 5,000 children have been adopted by westerners. Some 1,500 americans have adopted children from the troubled Eastern european country since the downfall of communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. . Immigration authorities have found evidence a that some of these kids were purchased by americans said a government source who spoke on condition of anonymity. More than 50 americans were stranded in Romania last Spring while awaiting approval from . Authorities to bring children Home. Last week Romania enacted a new Law designed to end Black Market sales of babies. It suspends adoptions until nov. 1 and sets prison terms of up to five years for people who charge or receive illegal adoption fees. The new . Immigration rules for children adopted overseas Are designed to ensure that a we will never knowingly or unwittingly become a Market for the trafficking in children Quot Austin said. .. Warship returns after 11v2 months in Gulf from wire reports Charleston . The Navy a longest deployed warship in the persian Gulf conflict returned Home thursday after an Law month mine sweeping tour. About 250 friends and relatives waved flags and signs As the mine countermeasures vessel Avenger arrived at the Charleston naval base to the tune of the boys Are Back in town. A it Hasni to sunk in yet but when it does it la be great because its Long overdue a it. Randall Doane of Evergreen colo., said of his return. The Avenger was the Navy a first ship deployed to the Gulf during operation desert shield a Navy spokesman said. The Avenger swept mines for the battleships Missouri Ana Wisconsin. Its Crew of 81 also helped Salvage the damaged amphibious assault ship Tripoli and the guided missile Cruiser Princeton the Navy accused As fake doctor Cincinnati a a Man posing As a doctor gave gynaecological exams performed minor surgery and prescribed Medicine at several hospitals for As Long As 14 months before a suspicious patient called authorities police said thursday. Thomas David West 32, of Erlanger ky., was charged with practising Medicine without a License and other charges. West performed gynaecological examinations twice this Spring in a University of Cincinnati Hospital emergency room police sgt. John Burke said. He allegedly performed minor surgery on a Many a leg lesions at Cincinnati a Good Samaritan Hospital and prescribed drugs Over the Telephone. A we Haven to been Able to verify that he has any surgical training a Burke said. West had surgery room clothing and identification Burke Law clears hurdle Baton Rouge la. A a Louisiana judge refused Friday to Block implementation of the states new anti abortion Law the toughest of its kind in the nation but scheduled a hearing on its merits eight Days before it is to take effect sept. 6. The action by District judge Bob Downing was similar to that taken last month by a Federal court in new Orleans which scheduled a hearing for aug. 13. A it is my considered opinion a preliminary injunction is premature until an act goes into effect a Downing said. A aug. 29th is going to be the trial on the merits of this the state suit was filed by planned parenthood inc. And a group of physicians. The Federal suit was filed by the american civil liberties Union. Downing issued his ruling after hearing arguments from attorney general William Guste and Mack Barham a former state supreme court Justice representing planned parenthood. The judge ordered both sides to file briefs in the Case by aug. 16, both Guste and Barham said they were unhappy with the ruling. Barham said he wanted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the abortion Law to protect the right to privacy of both women and doctors. Guste said Downing a order for a state hearing is a waste of time and Money. Any ruling a state court renders will Likely be made moot by the . Supreme court he convicted in death Muskegon Mich. A a 33-year-old woman who allegedly withheld liquids from her 4-year-old adopted son to cure him of bed wetting was convicted Friday of involuntary manslaughter in the boys death. Attorneys for Bertha Clark argued her inability to afford adequate medical care for the boy Rodney Clark was the underlying cause of the tragedy. A proper medical examination they said would have revealed a condition that made the prone to bed wetting. The prosecutor accused Clark of being grossly negligent in caring for Rodney. Clark could receive up to 15 years imprisonment when she is sentenced sept. 6
