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FEDS COME DOWN ON MURACA … or ‘SHELL GAMES FROM SUCKERLAND’

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY AUG. 3, 2017) — Vin Herbert Boulevard is named after one of Pittsfield’s great men, a man who epitomized public service in the same fashion as men like Chuck Garivaltis, Don Gleason, and a host of others. On Vin Herbert Boulevard a couple days ago,, the Feds combed over Pat Muraca with a closed fist. It’s a pity a man like Vin Hebert has his name on streets at times like this. The saving grace, of course, lies in the removal of the apple with the wormy core. It saves the bushel.

You remember Muraca — the man who founded the now-bankrupt Nuclea Biotechnologies, serenaded Pitsfield officials into handing over the keys to the kingdom, escaping to Albany to play solitaire, and returned to Lee this year with more of the same yak hair. His cancer-detecting mirages were always “in development.” These “products” were fashioned from unicorn oil, fairy dust from Walt Disney‘s Wonderful World of Color, and Bigfoot‘s DNA. In short, there WERE no products for the marketplace. As the FBI and Friends confidently assert, Muraca raised money from gullible investors, spent it on his own needs (casino debt, cigars, travel, restaurants), and kept business with the sham — Phony. Three-dollar bills. Shell games. Suckerland.

None of this should come as a surprise to readers of THE PLANET. We have been warning Pittsfield’s elite and state officials about this rain maker since he slimed his way into Pittsfield and began schmoozing with the “usual suspects” among The Suits.  As one astute member of the Secret Squadron pointed out, Mayor Dan Bianchi and PEDA exec Corydon Thurston put forth the rotund Muraca on an industrial-strength pedestal as the model of what passes for “economic development.” That tells you all you need to know about electing the nest round of municipal “leaders” in November.

The Security and Exchange Commission filed suit in U.S. District Court again Muraca and his new “companies,” NanoloecularDX LLC (NMDX) and Metaborx LLC, alleging “ongoing misappropriation of investor funds.” The suit says Muraca raised $1,175,000 from “at least 15 investors” under false claims of developing cancer diagnostic tests and “other bio-pharmaceutical innovations.” Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. The SEC says Muraca raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, using the dough to finance a high-flying personal lifestyle that fooled everyone and no one.

Of course, Uncle Sam credits Muraca with unusual generosity, saying that he used investor money to help finance his girlfriend’s two restaurants: the ill-fated Sullivan Station (like Nuclea, run into the ground and closed in January;  nothing to see there, folks) and Leenie’s Paninis Queenies Beanies (or something cute like that) in Lenox. All the sordid details can be had online.

Darleen Zradi, identified as Muraca’s sig other, reacted to the news with this Facebook post from July 31 at 11:05 a.m.:

“I want everyone to mind their own fucking business TODAY [Ed. Note: “today” is underlined and not in CAPS in the original post] I see one post of what is going on and I swear to god you will pay hell for it”

Hmmm. What are we to make of this plate of revenge? THE PLANET cannot vouch for the style, syntax, diction, or punctuation. We do know that such fare never should be served hot. Zradi (or someone) removed the post later in the day, but you know how it is in cyberspace: Nothing disappears. And while were at it, anyone know when Whiskey City‘s next gig is? If you don’t follow, you haven’t been getting out enough.

We close by pointing out that (a) Muraca is under the law considered innocent until proven guilty — a principle held sacred at this address — and (b) the feds typically don’t move in such resolute fashion unless they think they got the case cinched. The court of public opinion? Well, for good or ill, that remains another matter. All THE PLANET wants is justice and restitution.

———————————————————————————————–

“Truth is whatever must be and cannot be anything else.”Parmenides

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.

 

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Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Patrick Muraca should join forces with Nuciforo’s marijuana dispensary! After people smoke pot, they will get the munchies, and then they can eat out at Patrick Muraca’s girlfriend’s restaurant. With all the profits from marijuana sales and fine dining, Patrick Muraca can pay back his creditors he allegedly bilked for over $400,000.

– Jonathan Melle

Economic Injun
Economic Injun
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Muracca for Mayor…..the dude can raise money.

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Andy can grow his stuff at Hessijuana gardens.

Wilson
Wilson
6 years ago

Need to start holding the career criminals in government office accountable for providing a front for fraudsters: they’re co-conspirators

Sum Ting Wong
Sum Ting Wong
6 years ago

Things are getting better in Pittsfield. These businesses will be opening this year in vibrant dynamic Pittsfield.

1) Mooraca’s Dariy —–where cows, taxpayers and private investors are milked daily
2) Linda’s Tires———-will with stand hot air and get you out of Pittsfield
3) Doyle’s Distillery …..Berkshire Bourbon made with Silver Lake water
4) Wynn’s Windows…featuring Lexan windows and Kevlar Kurtains
5) Bouvier Buffet——featuring several pork dishes—-sorry for the 40% price increase
6) Barry’s Berries—–we have berries picked by Tom on Mt. Greylock
7) Krol’l Koffee——-weak koffee and stale ideas served
8) Sum Ting Wong’s—-sure to become the signature eatery of Pittsfield
9) Caccamo’s Mini Golf…Nick will caddy for you
10) Yon’s Boot Boutique….boots paid for by taxpayers and given away

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Sum Ting Wong
6 years ago

Wow!! Describes the economic situation in Pittsfield perfectly.

Still wondering
Still wondering
6 years ago

Given the connections of the Zradi family, it is no idle threat.

Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  Still wondering
6 years ago

?

May Hemm
May Hemm
6 years ago

Muraca’s plays guitar,drives a corvette, and is a big cigar smoker, all not an option in the fed pen.

Koz
Koz
Reply to  May Hemm
6 years ago

can’t fault him for any of that

May Hemm
May Hemm
Reply to  Koz
6 years ago

Who’s faulting?

2112
2112
Reply to  May Hemm
6 years ago

But his love life will surely pick up

Economic Injun
Economic Injun
Reply to  May Hemm
6 years ago

Can he play the ja
ilhouse rock?

2112
2112
6 years ago

Did Bianchi and Thurston get kickbacks from this huckster for giving him taxpayer dollars or are they really that stupid?

Spagirl
Spagirl
6 years ago

It seems America is rotting to the core. From the top down.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Spagirl
6 years ago

Stop listening to Rachel Maddow. She NEVER has anything good to say about Trump or Republicans.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Pat, if Rachael said good things it would be fake news.

Stop listening to Hannity, he is paid big moneyto wash brains.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

liberals are safe then

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

She reports on Trump and theres nothing good to say

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

PMSNBC

h
h
6 years ago

Trump approval rating at all time low.

Still wondering
Still wondering
Reply to  h
6 years ago

and it doesn’t matter at all…

Joe Blow
Joe Blow
Reply to  h
6 years ago

Haaaa…the polls were way wrong before the election…why believe them now?

Mr. G
Mr. G
6 years ago

What’s the Whiskey City reference all about? Apparently I don’t get out enough, I freely admit that. But I do know someone in the band. I was not aware of Mr. Muraca’s involvement, although I do know they were nearly the “house band” at Sullivan Station. Was Muraca on percussion…perhaps specializing in maracas?!?

Ed MaCelland
Ed MaCelland
6 years ago

Mr. Muraca now has personal experience to enhance his position on the Pittsfield Public Safety (police advisory) Advisory committee.

Spider
Spider
6 years ago

The name of the guy who hit and killed Gerald Scott will be released today at 2PM after he appears in Superior Court.

Why wasn’t his name released as soon as he was indicted by a grand jury?

h
h
Reply to  Spider
6 years ago

The driver left the scene, didn’t he she?

Spider
Spider
Reply to  h
6 years ago

Yes…but what does that have to do with it? The grand jury knows who he/she is and indicted that person!

The point I am making is that others indicted by a grand jury are made known. That’s going on with this case?

Don T
Don T
6 years ago

Something Muraculous going on here……couldn’t resist

h
h
6 years ago

If Pittsfield roads Commsioner Taramucchi is interested, on my street we have yet to have the roads swept and there is about seven pounds of roads salt in the gutter, feel free to collect it at your discretion.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  h
6 years ago

the dept inexplicably ran a one million dollar snow deficit and cannot afford to paint the lines in the roads or sweep many of them is this the explanation we are not hearing?

h
h
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Dusty, pun intended,they can recoup about a quarter of it in salt, just come and take it from my gutter.

dusty
dusty
Reply to  h
6 years ago

Somebody needs to take a good look at how this account ran amok. It did not seem like a horrible winter to me. Can we see the books on this line item please? Did they add in something that usually goes somewhere else? Is Trump doing the bookkeeping?

Spagirl
Spagirl
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

If it looks like a fish, smells like a fish……

Mow Payne
Mow Payne
Reply to  dusty
6 years ago

Dan has the best blog in Ma.

Dave
Dave
6 years ago

If I remember correctly Muraca filed for bankruptcy and then was the winning bidder to get all his stuff back at auction. What a surprise with this new development.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

He reminds me of a rainmaker or one of those elixer salesman out of the wild west.

Koz
Koz
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!!

RobEM
RobEM
6 years ago

I am not sure, but it seems like these were private investors. They pay attention to their interests. If it was public money given by a local government nobody would follow the investment.

The Joker
The Joker
6 years ago

“Holy Shades of Michael Armitage and Evan Dobelle, Batman”. BTW did you ever finish your online guitar lessons from Workshop Live ? You remember, the educational economic engine strongly endorsed in writing by Linda Tyer when she was a city councilor.”…” No Robin, I failed, like most intentions of GE development money, but the next charlatan will be the promised hoax”.” What a relief Batman, if you weren’t already the rich Bruce, not the fired Bruce, we could sell Bat regalia, with grant money investments as part of Pittsfield’s renaissance”.

Pat
Pat
6 years ago

This morning Mika and Joe on MSNBC said Trump is only playing to his base in West Virginia. That’s why he had such a large excited crowd last night. Mika says Trump doesn’t really care about the middle class. What has Trump done for the middle class? Then she and Joe and everyone they have on their program lie to the American public and play to their own base of people who just want to hear nasty stuff about Trump.

The hypocrisy is off the charts, but Mika has to be able to afford her plastic surgery and keep her show on the air so she and Joe have decided to Trump bash. They don’t care about the middle class just their own base of government dependent people and the rich elites, the two extremes in the country.

Business is booming across the country except for places like here in Berkshire County.