Conn. Mayor Arrested on Child Sex Charges

N E W   HA V E N, Conn., July 27 -- Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano, wholost last year's U.S. Senate race to incumbent Joseph Lieberman,has been arrested on federal sex charges involving a minor.

Giordano, 38, was ordered held without bond following a briefappearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport. He was chargedwith using an interstate facility to entice a minor to engage insexual activity and conspiracy to commit that offense.

Investigators said there was more than one alleged victim underage 16, but the charges lodged Thursday involved one youth.

The Hartford Courant, citing sources it did not identify,reported the alleged sexual misconduct involved two girls, 9 and11.

"The conduct in which Mr. Giordano is charged today isdisgraceful," said Michael Wolf, special agent in charge of theFBI.

Wolf said the investigation began after they received reportsthat Giordano, who is married and has three children, was "havinginappropriate sex."

IRS Involved, Too

The FBI, state prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service saidtheir investigations are continuing and may lead to more charges.U.S. District Judge Alan Nevas sealed the arrest warrant affidavitat Giordano's request.

Investigators would not elaborate on what they meant by"interstate facility" and an IRS agent would not comment on herpart of the investigation.

To be a federal offense, the crime must be committed acrossstate lines by such methods as travel, Internet, the telephone ormail.

If convicted, Giordano faces up to 10 years in prison and a$250,000 fine. He was due back in court on Tuesday.

WVIT-TV, citing "highly placed sources in the city" it did notidentify, said Giordano's arrest stemmed from a broaderinvestigation into alleged payoffs for city towing contracts andconstruction project kickbacks.

The FBI also executed search warrants on the offices of ThomasAriola, the city's acting finance director. His lawyer, MartinMinella, told the station that four search warrants were issuedinvolving Ariola, and that his client was cooperating with theinvestigation.