Briefly

Aisenberg tape not yet public

Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 13, 2000

TAMPA -- A judge declined Wednesday to make public an audio cassette that could resolve questions of whether or not Steven Aisenberg talked about hurting his missing daughter Sabrina, or admitted to using cocaine.

Attorneys for Aisenberg and his wife, Marlene, filed the cassette as part of a motion Tuesday arguing that federal prosecutors have grossly misinterpreted conversations of the couple picked up by secret listening devices.

While transcripts of the tape have been made public, court clerks declined to provide reporters with a copy. On Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo issued a directive saying the cassette would not be made public until he has had a chance to look into the matter. An attorney for the St. Petersburg Times said he plans to challenge that decision today.

Men charged with scalping

TARPON SPRINGS -- Two Pinellas County men were charged Wednesday with scalping Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff tickets.

Donald G. Simpson, 47, of 737 Crestridge Drive in Tarpon Springs, and Nicholas M. Giallourakis, 38, of 1132 Berkshire Lane in Tarpon Springs, were arrested after separate investigations.

Investigators said Simpson tried to sell four tickets, each with a $72 face value, and two parking passes for a total of $1,600. Giallourakis tried to sell four tickets with a combined face value of $265 for a total of $1,800, they said.

Each man was charged with the illegal resale of tickets, a first-degree misdemeanor.

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