Architect’s Money-Laundering Trial Under Way

The money-laundering trial of architect Paul Thoryk opened Tuesday with attorneys giving diverse views of Thoryk’s relationship with drug dealer Manuel Battaglia.

Thoryk, 47, of El Cajon is also charged with making a false statement on his 1983 income tax return that listed a payment of $43,782 to Battaglia as a consultant.

Battaglia, 46, of El Cajon, is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise in his methamphetamine dealings.

Thoryk, Battaglia and 35 co-defendants were indicted June 16, 1987, but Thoryk is on trial separately.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward Weiner said Battaglia was paid the $43,782 not as a consultant but as part of a money-laundering scheme involving Thoryk.

“Thoryk needed cash to keep the creditors off his back,” Weiner said.

In response, Thoryk’s attorney, Jerry Coughlan, said the key question is whether Thoryk “knowingly” laundered funds for Battaglia.

Coughlan described Thoryk as an “outstanding architect” who was very honest but had a lack of ability to deal with finances. Battaglia was retained as a consultant by Thoryk and he arranged six building projects for him, Coughlan said, and Battaglia’s sons worked on building some of the projects.

“Mr. Thoryk has never in his life been in trouble with the law,” said Coughlan.

After Thoryk learned of the drug investigation of Battaglia in 1986, he ceased doing business with him, the defense attorney said.

The first witness will be presented today by prosecutors before the jury and U.S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving. Thoryk remains free on bail.