Rigases Kept Adelphia Cars, Witness Says
Company founder John Rigas and his son Timothy Rigas kept 22 cars owned by Adelphia Communications Corp. after resigning from the cable firm in May 2002, longtime employee Charles Raptis testified Wednesday.
Raptis negotiated with John Rigas several times to reclaim the vehicles and ultimately threatened to make it a police matter, he said in his second day of testimony in the fraud trial of John Rigas and two of his sons.
John Rigas, Timothy Rigas, Michael Rigas and former executive Michael Mulcahey have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and fraud. They are accused of misleading creditors and investors and using Adelphia as “a personal piggy bank.”
Raptis, formerly an assistant to John Rigas and now in charge of maintenance and facilities at Adelphia, is a distant cousin and old family friend of the Rigases.
In late May or early June of 2002, Raptis approached John Rigas, saying the company would like its cars back.
“I do recall him asking for time.... He had no replacement cars immediately available,” Raptis testified. Raptis returned another day, asked for John Rigas’ cooperation, and with the help of employees retrieved 17 of the cars, he said.
“Just afterward, I phoned Mr. Rigas and indicated there were a balance of five left,” Raptis said. He said if the five remaining vehicles were not returned within 24 hours, “the company was willing to file charges for possession of stolen property.”
Adelphia employees then retrieved the five cars, Raptis said.
Former Chairman John Rigas had 17 Adelphia-owned vehicles and former Chief Financial Officer Timothy Rigas had five, including a Lexus sport utility vehicle that Adelphia bought for $50,000 and a Corvette convertible. One Adelphia-owned vehicle had on its door a logo for Wending Creek Farms, which is owned by John Rigas and not part of Adelphia.
John Rigas’ other three children -- Michael Rigas, James Rigas and Ellen Rigas Venetis -- each had one Adelphia-owned vehicle until early May 2002, Raptis said.
Adelphia also paid for expenses related to Ellen Rigas’ October 1998 wedding, Raptis said.
He also testified that for some time until 2002, Adelphia paid $40,000 a year to a personal trainer and masseur for John, Timothy and Michael Rigas.
