The slots applicant, Louis DeNaples, has come under scrutiny recently after a Pittsburgh newspaper reported he donated $20,000 to a political action committee close to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer. Jubelirer, a Republican, is a gambling opponent.

DeNaples co-owns D&L Realty in Lackawanna County with his brother, Dominick.

In 2004, Sturla supported legislation to legalize slots parlors in Pennsylvania. The $10,000 represents nearly a quarter of the total donations made to Sturla's House campaign in 2005.

Sturla said Monday he did not personally know the DeNapleses. Their contributions, he said, were a sign of support for proponents of expanded gambling in the state House.

In 2004, lawmakers approved a law that would allow slot parlors to operate in Pennsylvania. A portion of the slots revenue is to be used for school property tax relief.

"There were constant threats (by gambling opponents) to overturn" the law that legalized slots parlors in Pennsylvania, Sturla said. "(The DeNapleses) were looking for people who could help sway the legislation that moved through the House, the gaming legislation."

The donations -- credited to D&L Realty -- were made in two $5,000 transactions, the first on March 21, 2005, and the second on September 22, 2005, according to Sturla's campaign finance report.

The report credits the donation to D&L Realty and Dominick DeNaples.

Sturla's Republican adversaries in Lancaster city criticized him for what they perceive as a money-for-votes deal.

"You have to make sure there are no strings attached to contributions," said Patrick Snyder, a Republican candidate for Sturla's seat. "Basically, you have to make sure that there is no connection to money coming in and votes you are going to be taking."

Snyder's opponent in the May 16 GOP primary, Keith Charles, said the donation calls into question whether Sturla represents Lancaster city or his own interests.

"Just follow the money trail," Charles said.

Sturla said the donation might earn the DeNaples brothers a "phone call," but nothing more.

D&L Realty and RAM Consultants -- another parthership Louis DeNaples is associated with -- have donated more than $1 million since 2000 to a diverse list of politicians, including Gov. Ed Rendell and Jubelirer, according to the Times-Tribune in Scranton.

D&L Realty has donated tens of thousands of dollars to prominent Republicans since 2004, including $10,000 to state Sen. David "Chip" Brightbill, who represents part of Lancaster County, and $25,000 to Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Louis DeNaples in 1978 pleaded no contest to a fraud charge related to a $525,000 scheme to defraud the federal government, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. A jury at the time could not reach a verdict, the paper reported.

The Tribune-Review also reported the Pennsylvania Crime Commission and the Internal Revenue Service have linked DeNaples to the Buffalino crime family. The newspaper's report said a DeNaples spokesman denied the allegations.

Sturla said he was not aware of Louis DeNaples' past when the donations were made.

"I get contributions from numerous people I don't know who see the things I do in the legislature," he said. "Now, this starts to make me look into (the D&L Realty contribution), but at the time it didn't raise any eyebrows for me."

Dave Pidgeon's e-mail address is dpidgeon@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus