Feds: L&I aide tried to force sale

When a commercial-property owner in Fishtown refused to sell to a Department of Licenses & Inspections inspector, the latter used his post to try to force a sale, federal authorities charged yesterday.

The inspector, Kenneth T. Gassman Jr., 45, of Cedar Street near Letterly, in Kensington, was charged with one count of extortion, according to the indictment.

The indictment said that Gassman owned multiple properties on Thompson Street near Huntingdon, which he had renovated and turned into rental properties.

A person identified in the charging document as "LD" owned a commercial building that was between Gassman's properties.

Authorities said that Gassman offered to buy the property in 2006, but LD rejected the offer and a subsequent one, believing them to be below fair-market value.

That's when Gassman allegedly began a campaign, that lasted into February, to "seriously inhibit" LD's ability to sell the property to others and to force him to sell to Gassman.

As detailed in the indictment, Gassman is alleged to have:

* Persuaded other L&I inspectors to inspect LD's property and issue violations that forced LD to spend money for unnecessary repair work and to contest the violations;

* Given inspectors bogus information that resulted in inspectors' issuing unsubstantiated violations for "operating an unlicensed auto-repair shop";

* Repeatedly called the city's 3-1-1 hot line, and, using aliases, reported that LD's property was unsafe and dangerous;

* Vandalized LD's property by injecting glue in the garage-door locks and sealing shut the entrance door with an expanding foam sealant;

* Removed or defaced "for sale" signs placed on LD's property.

Gassman resigned his $47,501-a-year city job on Monday, said city Inspector General Amy Kurland, whose office initiated the investigation.

Jake Griffin, Gassman's attorney, was not immediately available for comment.