February 10, 1954
ONASSIS CHARGED: Washington, 8 – The US Department of Justice, in an official announcement today, said that nine people and six companies are to be tried on charges of «jointly organizing a conspiracy to embezzle from the US public sector various amounts of money totaling many millions of dollars during negotiations for the purchase of shipping surplus following the end of World War II.» Two of the accused are of particular public interest. One is Aristotle Onassis, who is of Greek origin and holds Argentinean citizenship. The other is former Democratic Congressman Joseph Casey. The charge, dating from last year, had not been heard in court because of Onassis’s failure to appear, and the entire brief had been pending in the Columbia Federal Court. Today the Greek shipowner appeared before the court and claimed his innocent of the charge. The court judge allowed Onassis bail of $10,000, but ordered him not to leave the United States as long as the charges against him were still pending.
