By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Niagara Falls businessman "Smokin' Joe" Anderson escaped jail time and probation at his sentencing Thursday in a public corruption case. Federal Judge William Skretny fined Anderson $50,000 for giving an interest-free loan to former Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello.
Anderson was hoping for favorable treatment from the Mayor on business development projects. Prosecutors say the men characterized the payments as loans, but Anello never repaid the money.
Anderson could have been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. But the US Attorney's office agreed to the lighter sentence because of Anderson's cooperation with FBI investigators.
Anderson pleaded guilty to helping Anello deprive citizens of honest services.
Anello is serving a 13-month sentence for defrauding his union's welfare fund by lying about how much he was working as a retired electrician.