The hedge funds took control of the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer and got rid of the editors of both papers. A series of buyouts, budget cuts, pay cuts, and mandatory furloughs ensued. In 2011, the new overseers sold the iconic white tower that housed the papers. Morale plummeted.
Amid rumors that the hedge funds planned to close the Daily News and further slash the Inquirer, the papers were sold yet again in the spring of 2012—this time for $55 million, 11 percent of the $515 million Tierney’s group had paid in 2006. It was the fourth time in six years that the papers had been flipped. The new owners were a group of local, high-profile businessmen, some of whom were entrenched in Democratic politics and fund-raising. They reinstalled Michael Days as editor of the Daily News and Bill Marimow as editor of the Inquirer. The owners promised to revive the papers, twenty-first-century style: online and behind paywalls. Time will tell.
Barbara and I continue to do investigative reporting for the Daily News.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
In May 2012, I landed my dream job covering the New York City Police Department for the New York Times. A little less than a year after I started working for the Times as Police Bureau Chief, my marriage to Karl fell apart. We separated in May 2013 and agreed to get divorced. With my personal life in turmoil, I decided to leave the Times and return to the Philadelphia area, where most of my family and friends are anchored. It was an extraordinarily difficult decision, but I felt that it was the right one for me and my boys. As Barbara often says, “Women really can have it all—just not at the same time.” I returned to the Philadelphia Daily News in late July 2013 and reclaimed a desk, right next to Barbara.
—Wendy Ruderman
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book, which grew out of our Philadelphia Daily News series, Tainted Justice, would not have been possible without the support of the entire newspaper staff. The victory of the Pulitzer was not ours alone. It was shared with reporters and photographers who fueled us with energy and inspiration as they filled the paper every day with breaking news, freeing us up to chase leads. Just as there are too many people to thank, there are too many adjectives to describe our colleagues, but a few that immediately come to mind are quirky, self-deprecating, tenacious, and all heart.
We’re thankful to Daily News staffers, including Denise Gallo, Howard Gensler, Jon Snyder, Kevin Bevan, Pat McLoone, Michelle Bjork, Vince Kasper, David Lee Preston, Bob “Boop” Vetrone, Will Bunch, Michael Mercanti, and staff attorney Scott Baker, who went the extra mile to provide help and advice. Former Daily News owner Brian Tierney and Daily News editor Michael Days were fearless advocates of our work and champions of journalism and its power to expose wrongs and effect change.
From start to finish, city editor Gar Joseph made this book his baby. He selflessly read every word of draft after draft, infusing the manuscript with a brand of giddiness that was un-Gar-like.
We thank Inquirer editor Bill Marimow for helping Wendy parachute into the Daily News so she could dodge the 2007 Inquirer layoffs. After we won the Pulitzer, Bill, who cultivated a fierce competitive spirit between the Daily News and Inquirer, would always say “Savor it” every time we bumped into him.
To our agent, the ever-dogged Larry Weissman, and his wife, Sascha Alper—a talented editor in her own right—we thank you for believing in this book from the jump. You shepherded this project from the beginning, prodding us up each mountain, with unwavering zeal and commitment. You are a dynamic team. To the staff at HarperCollins, you had us from “hello.” We’re thankful to our editor, Claire Wachtel, for her seasoned advice and clarity, which greatly improved the manuscript and kept the narrative moving. We are indebted to associate editor Hannah Wood for keeping the trains running and pushing us to the finish line. Fabio Bertoni, assistant general counsel, has a keen legal mind and was a huge help. We are forever appreciative to HarperCollins publisher Jonathan Burnham and Tina Andreadis, senior vice president and director of publicity, for enthusiastically embracing this project and giving it life.
We’re grateful to Philadelphia lawyers and court staffers who helped us obtain criminal files and other documents and lent their expertise: Jeremy Ibrahim, Stephen Patrizio, Bradley Bridge, Guy Sciolla, Ralph Silvestro, Theresa Costello, Marc Gaillard, and Joanne Franchini.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t single out Philadelphia attorney and former Pennsylvania boxing commissioner George Bochetto, a ferocious advocate for his clients who graciously agreed to be interviewed for the book and patiently described the history of collectibles in his office.
Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey always told it to us straight, even when the truth was an ugly stain on the department. We thank our police sources in narcotics and internal affairs who provided us with invaluable information. We would name them individually but cannot because they helped us under the condition that we would not reveal their identities and therefore put their jobs and lives at risk. We’re particularly grateful to the cop we call “Ray,” who is not only a great officer and salt-of-the-earth person, but who also became a friend.
We thank Wellington Stubbs, former investigator at the Police Advisory Commission, for literally risking his job to cast a light on corrupt police officers and for sending Benny Martinez our way. We are grateful to Benny, who gave us the first glimmer into the lies, deceit, and secrets of an elite narcotics squad.
We’re in awe of bodega owner Jose Duran and all the other merchants who entrusted us with their horrific and heartbreaking stories. If not for their courage, we believe that store owners across Philadelphia would continue to be victimized to this day.
The word admiration falls short to describe how we feel about the three women who spoke out about their dark encounters with Officer Tom Tolstoy. In doing so, they gave voice to victimized women everywhere. Two of the women, Lady Gonzalez and Dagma Rodriguez, not only allowed us to use their names and photographs, but bravely agreed to go on camera. This resulted in poignant videos rendered by pros—Daily News photographers David Maialetti and Sarah J. Glover. Even now, years later, the videos move us to tears.
We couldn’t have gotten through the nail-biting angst of writing our first book without great friends. Those who read parts or all of our early drafts provided candid input, sometimes painfully so, but saved us from ourselves—they are Yvonne Latty, Dave Davies, Lisa Breslin, Cullen Murray-Kemp, Harry Green, Nicole Weisensee Egan, Kristen Graham, and Stephanie Farr.
A few friends stand out for being staunch advocates of us and this book. Monica Yant Kinney became our honorary Slime Sista. Her enthusiasm for this book was infectious. Her feedback, along with that of her husband, David Kinney, was invaluable. Once, when we needed a quiet place to write, we camped at their dining room table, drank their coffee, and swiped their pens (though not ones on par with Barbara’s favorite Paper Mate Profile ballpoints).
Hutch Raymer always had our backs. Practically a bodyguard, he looked out for Barbara after we received angry and, in some cases, threatening e-mails and phone calls from cops while writing the Tainted Justice series. While holed up in Barbara’s house, tired and stressed from writing various drafts of this book, Hutch came to the rescue. This time he brought levity—baked chicken and vegetables and Southern Comfort instead of his 9mm Glock.
—Wendy and Barbara
The love and support of my family and friends is boundless. To my Slime Sista, Barbara Laker, I am so grateful that you came into my life. It might sound whacky but I believe my dad’s spirit brought us together. You are a one-of-a-kind, rare friend; a talented journalist; and a darn good person with a big heart and a fiery passion for life. You bring out the best in me—always.
I thank my mom, Isabel Ruderman Amenta, and dad, Stan Ruderman, for giving me the lifetime gift of a magical childhood and building a solid foundation upon which to launch my dreams and embrace adventure. My dad, who died in 1997, was my biggest fan and instilled in me a love of the arts and a belief in myself. My mom is a geyser of energy
and strength—traits that have rubbed off on me and my sister and brother. She taught us how to dust ourselves off and start anew when life delivers a setback, or a major blow, and the ability to delight in butterflies and colorful flowers. I’m thankful to my mom’s husband, Alan Amenta, for his unconditional support and for being a loving grandfather to my kids.
I cherish my sister, Amy Ruderman Plassio, and brother, David Ruderman, for always being there for me, for rooting me on with genuine pride, and for bolstering my spirits whenever I feel low. I admire their capacity to see the bright side of everything. They inspire me to be a better person. I thank David’s husband, Juilliard voice teacher Robert White, for making my family’s life more musical.
My life would be empty—and far less interesting—without my boys, Brody and Sawyer. I never tire of their hugs or the funny things they do and say. They surprise me every day with their astute observations and wonderment. I thank them for indulging my inner kid. I feel pure happiness when I am alongside them building sand castles, jumping in piles of leaves, and sledding under a clear night sky. Brody and Sawyer, you have my heart, forever.
—Wendy
Even though, Seven, my rescue dog, can’t read that I know of, I want to thank her for patiently waiting for dinner that came too late, and for her wet kisses and tail wags every time I came home.
The Tainted Justice series and this book would have never come to be without Wendy, my Slime Sista, the best reporter I’ve ever known. Some people come into your life at just the right time for all the right reasons. Wendy, you are that person. I look up to you like no other. You’re not only my best friend, you’re like family to me and always will be.
I am grateful to my cousin, Rachel Goldberg, who has been like a sister I never had. I want to thank my brother, David Laker, who has always been my cheerleader and believed in me more than I did. My dad, Peter Laker, a rare bird in the truest sense, could always make me laugh, even when I felt like crying. He taught me obstacles were just that—and I could climb over them. Thank you, Dad, for telling me I was special and could make a mark in this world. Those words put fire in my belly.
None of my life adventures—and there have been many—would feel the same or mean as much without my children, Josh and Anna. They have grown into kind and driven young people who I would like and admire even if they weren’t mine. Josh and Anna—you inspire me like no one else. You have taught me to let the little stuff go and make the big stuff count. My mom taught me the power of love. You taught me that in the end, nothing else matters.
—Barbara
PHOTOGRAPHIC INSERTS
Officer Jeffrey Cujdik, of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Narcotics Field Unit. He recruited Benny Martinez as Confidential Informant 103. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
Raul Nieves’s lawyer Stephen Patrizio was the first person to suspect something was amiss. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
The row house at 1939 East Pacific Street that Jeff Cujdik rented to Benny Martinez, below market rate, as part of their arrangement. (Courtesy of the authors)
Michael Days, editor of the Philadelphia Daily News. (Jessica Griffin/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
The first article about Benny Martinez, featuring a silhouette photograph of him to conceal his identity, ran on the front page of the February 9, 2009, edition of the Philadelphia Daily News under a headline that would come to define the series. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Daily News)
Lady Gonzalez, the first woman to say that she was sexually assaulted by a Philadelphia Narcotics Field Unit officer during a raid. (Sarah J. Glover/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
Brian Tierney (right), owner of the Philadelphia Daily News, after the first day of the 2009 bankruptcy hearing at Philadelphia’s Federal Courthouse. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Inquirer)
From left: Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey; Janice Fedarcyk, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia field office; and Mayor Michael Nutter at a joint press conference held on February 13, 2009, to address Wendy and Barbara’s story. (Alejandro A. Alvarez/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
John McNesby, president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, speaks out against the Philadelphia Daily News at a February 25, 2009, press conference. George Bochetto, Jeff Cujdik’s lawyer, is on the right. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
Just some of the boxes of search warrants that Wendy and Barbara waded through for their stories. (Courtesy of the authors)
This frame of surveillance video from Jose Duran’s store shows Narcotics Field Unit officer Anthony Parrotti poised to cut the camera wires with a bread knife. The frame was run on the front page of the March 30, 2009, edition of the Philadelphia Daily News. (Courtesy of Jose Duran and Philadelphia Daily News)
Another still, which was published in the Philadelphia Daily News with faces blurred, shows Narcotics Field Unit officer Thomas Tolstoy (foreground) checking out the camera. Cujdik is directly behind him. Tolstoy was identified by at least three women as the officer who sexually assaulted them during raids. (Courtesy of Jose Duran)
The aftermath of the Philadelphia Narcotics Unit raid on Jose Duran’s store. (Courtesy of Jose Duran)
Angel Castro hugs his Thayer Street neighbor Dagma Rodriguez, another woman who said she was assaulted by Officer Tolstoy. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
“Naomi,” the third of Officer Tolstoy’s alleged sexual assault victims to come forward, appears in silhouette on the cover of the June 17, 2009, edition of the Philadelphia Daily News. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News, courtesy of Philadelphia Daily News)
The photograph of Wendy with her father that Wendy slipped under her pillow for luck the night before the 2010 Pulitzer Prize announcements. (Courtesy of Wendy Ruderman)
Before the Pulitzer announcement, Barbara drew strength by praying to her mother. This photo of Barbara’s mother sat on her desk. (Courtesy of Barbara Laker)
City editor Gar Joseph, Barbara (center), and Wendy react to the news of their Pulitzer Prize win on April 12, 2010. (Sarah J. Glover/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
Brian Tierney, about to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Phillies game, wears a shirt that captures the spirit of the Philadelphia Daily News. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer/Philadelphia Daily News)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
WENDY RUDERMAN has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Before joining the Philadelphia Daily News in 2007, she worked at several media outlets, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY-TV and WHYY-FM, the Trenton Times, the Associated Press, and the Bergen Record.
BARBARA LAKER graduated from the University of Missouri Journalism School and worked for several newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Dallas Times Herald, and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. She began working at the Philadelphia Daily News in 1993 and has been a general assignment reporter, an assistant city editor, and an investigative reporter.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.
CREDITS
Cover design by Milan Bozic
Cover photograph © Thinkstock / Getty Images
COPYRIGHT
The names and identifying characteristics of some of the individuals featured throughout this book have been changed to protect their privacy.
BUSTED. Copyright © 2014 by Wendy Ruderman and Barbara Laker. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, wh
ether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN 978-0-06-208544-3
EPub Edition MARCH 2014 ISBN 9780062085467
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
http://www.harpercollins.com
Busted Page 20