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After paying $27,053 in back taxes, Martino's company came away with $12,947, according to the closing statement.
THAP's Chet Luney told the Planet that no public money was used to buy the property. But Frank H. Wright, who helped his brother-in-law Martino try to find private buyers for the property, said city officials put together the whole transaction for THAP.
Since talking with the Planet, Luney has come under fire for doing favors for LaBrake and the city official's mistress, Lynne McCarter, and for allegedly misspending THAP's government grant money.
The THAP governing board has muzzled Luney after his recent press interviews opened up new areas of inquiry for federal investigators.
Tampa lawyer Warren H. Dawson, the new spokesman for the nonprofit, didn't return calls seeking comment on when or if THAP will get around to developing the former Ernesto's site. Contact Staff Writer Francis X. Gilpin at 813-248-8888, ext. 130, or [email protected].
