A former blackjack dealer with a troubled past in Florida that includes charges involving drugs, drinking and driving, and soliciting a prostitute is working as Councillor Doug Ford’s constituency assistant.

Paul Saracino, an old Ford friend from Etobicoke, was put on the city payroll in September but has kept a low public profile.

“No comment,” Saracino said when the Star called to lay out a series of questions and allegations to him Friday. He then hung up.

Saracino did not respond to detailed questions sent by email. Doug Ford also did not respond to a call and detailed questions from the Star.

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To add to the mystery of Paul Saracino, the bungalow in Hollywood, Fla., that he gave as his address when arrested has also been used for years as a mail drop for Deco Labels, the Ford family company headquartered in Etobicoke. The Hollywood home is owned by the Saracino family.

Court records in Florida show Saracino, 48, has faced charges in the past for offences including cocaine possession. The drug charges were dismissed in court. His only convictions were in 1995, for a charge of drinking and driving and in 2004, for soliciting a prostitute. There were no charges and convictions after 2004.

The Star was unable to determine how much Saracino is paid. His salary comes out of a councillor’s annual staffing budget of $224,264, paid for by taxpayer funds. The city does not make staff salaries public; it is up to a councillor to do so if he or she wishes.

Councillors themselves decide what to pay their staff, but the suggested maximum for a constituency assistant is $69,000. Typically, an assistant’s job is to help ratepayers with neighbourhood concerns, such as complaints about parks, community centres or annoying potholes.

The Star was unable to determine what qualifications Saracino has to be Ford’s assistant. Previously he has worked as a blackjack dealer at Florida casinos, as a bartender and as a flooring installer.

According to Doug Ford’s city councillor website, he has four staff members: Saracino (constituency assistant), an executive assistant, an administrative assistant and a special assistant.

Saracino was hired on Monday, Sept. 30, according to city spokesperson Jackie DeSouza.

That hiring came just before a very busy and tension-filled time for both Ford brothers. The next day, Oct. 1, Toronto police made the high-profile arrest of Alexander “Sandro” Lisi, Mayor Rob Ford’s sometime driver, on drug charges. Lisi has since been charged with extortion over alleged attempts to retrieve the crack cocaine video that shows the mayor impaired and making homophobic and racially charged remarks.

Around city hall, other councillors’ staff said they have had no dealings with Saracino. They said he arrived on the scene with no explanation as to his credentials for the job.

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The six-foot-two Saracino spent his early years in Etobicoke. His mother and the Ford brothers’ mother are good friends, and the boys all knew each other growing up. They kept in touch even after the Saracino family moved to Oakville.

Saracino moved to Florida in the 1990s. He married Rowena Heaven and lived with her and Heaven’s son, Darrius, in a family-owned yellow bungalow on North 30th Rd. in Hollywood. (Saracino and Rowena Heaven have since divorced.)

The same house was used as the Florida address of Deco Labels, the Ford family company.

People who have lived at that address told the Star that after Saracino moved out they continued to receive mail for Deco. Jennifer King, a tenant who lived in part of the large bungalow for years, said she saw mail for Deco arriving between 2009 and 2012.

One source close to Saracino said he did sales work for the Ford company at one time, and it appears this may be why the address is linked to Deco Labels. The Deco website does not list Florida as one of its locations.

People who know Saracino said he has had troubles with substance abuse and has been in rehab. Records from the Florida court system reveal charges, but no convictions, involving drugs. A 2000 charge of possession of marijuana for the purpose of selling was dismissed, as was a cocaine possession charge around the same time.

His 1995 conviction for drinking and driving yielded him a six-month licence suspension, and his 2004 conviction for soliciting a prostitute was dealt with by a $29 fine.

His home address for those charges was the yellow Hollywood bungalow.

The yellow bungalow’s address also appears on court and police documents related to Saracino’s now ex-wife’s son. Darrius T. Heaven, 32, has a lengthy criminal record that includes multiple convictions and jail time for cocaine trafficking, drug possession, aggravated assault, and carrying a concealed weapon. He is currently on probation over gun charges.

Kevin Donovan can be reached at (416) 312-3503 or kdonovan@thestar.ca

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