Wedtech scandal

Years later, Mariotta brought in a partner, Fred Neuberger, and began focusing on winning small business set-aside contracts from the Department of Defense.

As a major employer in a depressed part of New York City, Wedtech enjoyed a strong local reputation and was even praised by then U.S. President Ronald Reagan for the jobs it provided for those who might otherwise be forced onto welfare rolls.

When Wedtech went public, it gave shares of stock to law firms (as payment for legal services), including Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld.

[5] Wedtech then began extending its reach to the White House, utilizing President Reagan's press secretary, Lyn Nofziger, to contact public liaison officer (and future Senator) Elizabeth Dole.

Guariglia had been convicted of lying about stopping his compulsive gambling, and an appeals court found that the jury would have likely discredited his testimony if it had known about the perjury.