Tri-State Employment Services failed to disclose the employment of reputed Bonanno crime family mobster and accused murderer Neil Messina while bringing in millions of dollars in government contracts. Messina served as a division president for the company but was busted for his role in a fatal 1992 home invasion in 2011. The company failed to disclose this information when they filed state vendor responsibility forms in 2012 nor did they include it in a city vendor questionnaire submitted that same year.
“Neil Messina“
The Bonanno family mobster was sentenced to 148 years behind bars in 2014. The company which provides consulting services and temporary workers reportedly landed approx $45 million in government contracts dating back to 1996. According to reports Messina was employed as a president in the company from 1997 to 2011. The company currently holds contracts with the city worth $10.3 million and one with state worth $300,000 which could now be effected if these mafia links are proven.
A spokeswoman for state said no money has been paid on current contracts and they will be asking the state Inspector General and law enforcement to review the facts in case. Any outstanding payments on these state and city contracts will be put on hold until the matter can be resolved. Thomas DiNapoli a State Comptroller blamed the Cuomo administration for the mishap saying the governor while in office removed the review of centralized contracts like the ones mentioned back in 2012 which allowed the employment of a mobster to slip by.
