Vincent J. Palermo, Fraud Conspiracy, Nebraska 2024

The FBI has brought another public official to justice, this time in the form of Vincent J. Palermo, a former Omaha City Councilman.

Palermo, along with Richard Gonzalez, a former Omaha Police Officer, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.

According to the FBI, Palermo received personal and financial benefits from 2018 to 2023 in exchange for official actions while serving as a Councilman. These benefits included airfare, luxury hotel accommodations, travel arrangements, and other items of value. Palermo failed to disclose these benefits to the City Council.

Gonzalez, who was the Executive Director of Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) and a member of the Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA), conspired to defraud donors of LPOA and PACE for his own personal benefit. He misused LPOA funds for trips, meals, and gambling, and even purchased trips for friends and co-defendant Palermo, including a trip to Las Vegas.

Palermo was also sentenced to a consecutive 9-month term of imprisonment for a violation of supervised release, and will serve a 2-year term of supervised release after his release from prison. Gonzalez will begin a 3-year term of supervised release after his release from prison. Both men were ordered to pay restitution, with Palermo paying $10,292.28 and Gonzalez paying $66,749.35.

The FBI commended the work of its agents in investigating and pursuing those who abuse their public office for personal gain. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Palermo’s case serves as a reminder that public officials will be held accountable for their actions, and that the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption and protect the public trust.

In related news, co-defendant Johnny Palermo’s change of plea hearing is scheduled for January 18, 2024, and co-defendant Jack Olson’s trial is scheduled for April 10, 2024. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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