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Federal Election Commission | United States of America
  • Press Release

Compliance Case Made Public

July 23, 2003

News Releases, Media Advisories

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2003		 Contact: Kelly Huff
Ron Harris
Bob Biersack
Ian Stirton
COMPLIANCE CASE MADE PUBLIC
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently made public its final action on a matter previously under review (MUR). This release contains only disposition information.

Specific released documents placed on the public record within the following closed MURs are cited following DISPOSITION heading. Release of these documents is consistent with the district court opinion in the December 19, 2001, decision of AFL-CIO v. FEC.

1. MUR 4931
RESPONDENTS: (a) Audiovox, Inc. (NY)

(b) Aris Constantinides, President of Quintex (NY)

(c) Thomas Doherty, Comptroller of Audiovox Communications Corporation ("ACC")

(d) Neil Levine, Vice President of Finance of ACC

(e) Daniel McGuire, Regional Manager for CDMA Technology of ACC

(f) James Papadopoulos, Vice President of Engineering at ACC

(g) Gloria Pisano, Assistant Vice President of Quintex (NY)

(h) Philip Christopher, Executive Vice President of Audiovox, Inc. and President of ACC

(i) Gary Tabackman, President of GLM Security and Sound, Inc.

(j) Auto Sound Company, Inc.

(k) Howard Honigbaum, President of Auto Sound Company, Inc.

(l) A-Z Auto Sound Systems, Inc.

(m) Joseph DiFazio, President, A-Z Auto Sound Systems, Inc.

(n) James Maxim, Quintex Vice President for the Mid- Atlantic region

(o) Sophia Cotzia, Executive Director of the International Coordination Committee Justice for Cyprus

(p) Christina Christopher

(q) Cathy Maxim

(r) Nikos Mouyiaris

(s) Chris Christoforou

(t) Nancy Beiswenger

(u) Frederick Beiswenger, Quintex Controller for Mid-Atlantic region

(v) William Funovits, Quintex Vice President for the Pittsburgh region

(w) Kim Macdonald

(x) Autosound Delaware Valley, Inc.

(y) Robert Rossano, President of Autosound Delaware Valley Inc.

(z) Quintex Mobile Communications Corporation (Quintex)

(aa) Meridy Tabackman

(bb) GLM Security and Sound, Inc.

(cc) Nickolaos Ageletopoulos

(dd) Louis Antoniou

(ee) Polixein Kaeubais

(ff) Patrick Lavelle

(gg) John Shalam

(hh) Socratis Stravropoulos

(ii) Charles Stoehr

(jj) Barbara Constantinides

(kk) Helen Constantinides

(ll) Chris Philiastides

(mm) Ronald Needleman

(nn) Brett Macdonald

(oo) Jodi DiFazio

(pp) Drew Levy

(qq) George Iordanou

(rr) Parkway Car Stereo

(ss) John Brunetti

(tt) Brian Norris
COMPLAINANT: Referral from the Department of Justice
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/contributions in the names of others
DISPOSITION: (a-g) Conciliation Agreement: $ 620,000 civil penalty*

(h) Conciliation Agreement: $ 130,000 civil penalty*

(i) Conciliation Agreement: $ 45,000 civil penalty*

(j-k) Conciliation Agreement: $ 30,000 civil penalty*

(l-m) Conciliation Agreement: $ 10,000 civil penalty*

(n) Conciliation Agreement: $ 10,000 civil penalty*

(o) Conciliation Agreement: $ 4,000 civil penalty*

(p-t) Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: permitting own name to be used to effect contribution]

(u-tt) Reason to believe (knowing and willful), but took no further action*

[re: corporate contributions; contributions in the names of others]

(t-aa) Sent admonishment letters.
DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD: General Counsel’s Report #7 (dated August 27, 2002); certification of vote by Commission (dated September 3, 2002); General Counsel’s Report #8 (dated November 12, 2002); certification of vote by Commission (dated November 18, 2002); Conciliation Agreement (DiFazio and A-Z Auto Sound Systems, Inc.); receipt of payment (dated October 17, 2002); certification of vote by Commission (dated December 12, 2002); Conciliation Agreement (Sophia Cotza); receipt of payment (dated December 3, 2002); certification of vote by Commission (dated December 30, 2002); Conciliation Agreement (James Maxim); receipt of payment (dated January 28, 2003); General Counsel’s Report #11 (dated May 9, 2003); certification of vote by Commission (dated May 15, 2002), Conciliation Agreement (Gary Tabackman), receipts of payments (dated April 1, 2003, June 17, 2003, and July 9, 2003), Conciliation Agreement (Auto Sound Company, Inc. and Honigbaum), receipts of payments (dated April 22, 2003 and June 20, 2003); General Counsel’s Report #12 (dated July 11, 2003); certification of vote (dated July 17, 2003); Conciliation Agreement (Audiovox, et. al.); Conciliation Agreement (Philip Christopher)

 

*There are four administrative stages to the FEC enforcement process:

1. Receipt of proper complaint 3. "Probable cause" stage
2. "Reason to believe" stage 4. Conciliation stage

 

It requires the votes of at least four of the six Commissioners to take any action. The FEC can close a case at any point after reviewing a complaint. If a violation is found and conciliation cannot be reached, then the FEC can institute a civil court action against a respondent.

# # #

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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.