Tag: Off Track Betting

Dec 20

2019

Attorney charges OTB intimidating witness

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The attorney for a senior manager of the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. says his client is being punished for cooperating with a federal investigation of the agency. Federal investigators apparently consider the allegation of witness intimidation serious enough that they have subpoenaed records from the OTB to review the matter. “He’s being intimidated because he’s cooperating,” Steven Cohen, the senior manager’s attorney, said. “All my client is doing is not lying to federal investigators.” Not only are OTB Chairman Richard Bianchi and President Henry Wojtaszek retaliating against his client, Cohen contends, but they have falsified OTB records. “Henry[...]

Posted 4 years ago

Oct 10

2019

OTB relents, discloses ticket recipients

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 For months now, the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. has refused to release the names of people who attended Bills and Sabres games in luxury suites it leases from the teams. Today, the OTB relented and released 201 documents that purports to identify ticket recipients. OTB acted in the face of a threatened lawsuit from the Niagara Gazette, which, along with Investigative Post, filed Freedom of Information requests this spring that were subsequently denied. OTB officials contended that release of names would represent an invasion of privacy of ticket recipients. Officials from the state Committee on Open Government[...]

Posted 4 years ago

Jul 31

2019

Free ride over for OTB boss

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 The pay and perks are aplenty for the head of the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. There’s Henry Wojtaszek’s annual salary of $179,462. A state pension. Forty-seven days a year of paid time off, including vacation, holidays, personal time and sick time. Access to gold-plated health, dental and vision insurance, which he has opted out of in favor of an annual cash payment of at least $6,000. And, until April, a cell phone and automobile paid for by OTB. Wojtaszsek abruptly surrendered the car and phone after Investigative Post and the Niagara Gazette requested records under the state[...]

Posted 5 years ago

Jul 19

2019

State comptroller to audit OTB

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The state Comptroller announced Friday his office is going to take a close look at how the Western Regional Off Track Betting Corp. does business. The audit will consider not only the routine aspects of the OTB’s operation, but several questionable business practices exposed by Investigative Post and the Niagara Gazette. They include deluxe health, vision and dental insurance provided to part-time board members and the distribution of tickets to concerts and sporting events. “Questions have been raised about the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation that warrant a deeper look,” Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a statement. “Our audit team[...]

Posted 5 years ago
Investigative Post

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