Testimony in the trial of Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez Thursday turned to the realtor who handled part of the failed property sale, and the planned payoff, that are at the center of the larceny by extortion case.
John Concilio testified he spent at least two years trying to sell the privately-owned Main Street eyesore known as the "Butt Ugly Building."
Concilio told jurors he arranged a meeting between the potential buyer, Joseph Citino, and Abraham Giles, who runs the adjacent city-owned parking lot Citino also wanted to buy.
"I contacted Mr. Giles to reach an agreement with Providian Builders so that Mr. Giles could continue the operation of the parking on the lot," said Cincilio. Providian Builders is Citino's company.
Prosecutors say Mayor Perez demanded Citino "take care" of Giles or the development deal wouldn't happen. In exchange, they say Giles gave Perez much needed political support during his 2007 re-election bid.
The payoff Citino and Giles eventually agreed to was a $100,000 lease termination fee. Citino later learned that Giles had no lease with the city on the property, according to his earlier testimony. The deal fell apart.
When prosecutors asked if lease termination agreements with tenants are common, Concilio said they are, as long as the tenant has a legal right to the property.
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"With no rights to operate on the property or ownership rights of the property there's no need for a termination fee. It makes no sense," said Concilio.
Also testifying on Thursday, Juliann Butler, Hartford's then-Acting Revenue Manager, who testified she searched for a lease or licensing agreement between Giles and the city for that parking lot but was never able to find one.
Yonas Alemu, a manager for Central Parking, also took the stand. He testified his company was ousted from a parking lot across from the "Butt Ugly Building" after running it 20 years. Giles later took over running that lot.
