FBI Looking At Brizzi Files

WRTV's Jack Rinehart says FBI agents have asked to look at files in the Marion Co. Prosecutor's Office for a convicted drug dealer, Joseph Mobarecki. He's the client of Brizzi business partner Paul Page who appeared to get a lenient plea deal because Page was his attorney. According to Rinehart, FBI agents sought records in the case from the Prosecutor's Office's Forfeiture Unit. Page told Rinehart that he had no idea why the FBI would want to the files. "I'm sure they will find nothing illegal or inappropriate in the file,"  Page told Rinehart. Brizzi was unavailable for comment.

UPDATE: The IBJ's Cory Schouten has some more interesting details. The FBI is also looking at the Elkhart building lease a company co-owned by Brizzi and Page entered into with the Department of Children Services according to multiple sources he says. He has some information on that mortgage I noted got recorded less than 24 hours before the FBI raided alleged Ponzi scheme operator Tim Durham's offices. The mortgage lists a post office box address used by John Bales to make political contributions to Republicans with no specific amount listed. His Venture Real Estate brokered the deal on behalf of the state and pocketed over $130,000 in brokers and development fees. The state invested $200,000 in improvements to the property, while the new owners spent about a half million dollars. The building was valued at only $700,000 when it was acquired, but its value grew to $1.2 million after the lease was executed, returning a quick $500,000 return for Brizzi and Page on their investment. The Department of Administration says it doesn't believe Bales violated his agreement with the state, which restricts him from handling any deals in which he owns a "direct or indirect" interest. Also noteworthy in Schouten's report is the mention that Brizzi did not get added to the building's ownership until late in the process. An attorney for DCS claims he didn't know Brizzi was involved. Page said Brizzi brought the investment opportunity to him.