Lupoli's Brother Fined For Contributions To Andover Officials

ANDOVER, MA -- Restauranteur and developer Sal Lupoli's brother Michael Agreed to pay $30,000 in fines to settle claims they made $13,000 in illegal campaign contributions to 13 elected officials in Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, and Lowell. In addition to completed projects inHaverhill, Lawrence and Lowell, the Lupoli Companies have been trying to get approval for a massive development on the Andover-Tewksbury town line. Andover Town Meeting rejected that proposal earlier this year, prompting the company to begin work on a revised proposal for the property.

Michael Lupoli's settlement with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance does not name Sal Lupoli or accuse him of wrongdoing. The office accused Michael Lupoli of reimbursing two employees after telling them to make contributions to targeted officials. In exchange for the fine, the office agreed not to seek criminal charges against Michael Lupoli.

In Andover, those officials included state Sen. Barbara L'Italien (D-Andover) and former Andover Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Salafia who was accused of accepting donations from Lupoli in exchange for supporting the company's projects. The state Ethics Commission cleared Salafia of those allegations earlier this summer.

The Office of Campaign and Political Finance said it does not believe that the officials who received contributions were aware they were improper. L'Italien told the Eagle-Tribune she gave the three contributions totaling $2,500 that she received to the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer's Association hours after hearing about the settlement on Monday.

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File photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).