Bloggers everywhere are writing about Senior U.S. Judge Edwin M. Kosik's recent decision to reject the plea deals reached with Conahan and Ciavarella. There are a multitude of mainstream newsprint articles on the subject.
Jerry Lynott in the Times Leader writes Senior U.S. Judge Edwin M. Kosik’s order voiced displeasure with the conduct and statements of the two men since they pleaded guilty on Feb.12 to participating in a $2.6 million kickback scheme related to the construction of two juvenile detention facilities and the placement of youths in the facilities.
A report the U.S. Probation Office prepared on Conahan for sentencing purposes indicated he “refused to discuss the motivation behind his conduct, attempted to obstruct and impede justice and failed to clearly demonstrate affirmative acceptance of responsibility with his denials and contradiction of evidence,” Kosik wrote.
Ciavarella has been less obstructive, but, Kosik noted, the former judge “has resorted to public statements of remorse, more for his personal circumstances, yet he continues to deny what he terms ‘quid pro quo.’ ” Ciavarella said he did not take money for placing juveniles in the centers and described his payments as a “finder’s fee” for having the centers built in Pittston Township and Butler County.
“Quid pro quo can be implied from the evidence,” wrote Kosik, adding the government does not have to show “explicit promise to perform official acts in return for payment.”
In a visit to the past one must look at a previous case involving Conahan where he escaped prosecution.
Government witness Neal DeAngelo testified Judge Conahan called him in 1986 and said he had heard Mr. DeAngelo’s brother, Paul, had been buying cocaine from a dealer who was under investigation. Judge Conahan offered to put the DeAngelos in contact with a Florida dealer, Mr. DeAngelo testified.
Mr. Belletiere, who is a former Hazleton resident, subsequently called Mr. DeAngelo at Judge Conahan’s request, according to testimony, and the DeAngelo brothers and another man traveled to Miami to buy $26,500 worth of cocaine from Mr. Belletiere.
The federal prosecutor in the case, during a “sidebar” conversation with the judge out of the jury’s earshot, called Judge Conahan an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the case, according to a transcript.
From a Citizen's Voice article published July 16, 2008
“Fourteen years ago, Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan said allegations that he helped connect a Florida cocaine dealer with a Hazleton buyer were “bogus” stories told by “common criminals” hoping to curry favor with federal prosecutors.
Four years ago, the convicted cocaine dealer and Conahan’s wife, Barbara, formed a Pompano Beach used-car business, according to an official with the company who said Monday that he met with Conahan, Conahan’s wife and the former dealer in Florida to discuss setting up the business in 2004.”
The Times Leader published the following in January of this year.
Paul DeAngelo was sentenced by Judge Kosik to 18 months in prison for his guilty plea to aiding with the distribution of a kilogram of cocaine in 1987.
Judge Kosick would be the same Senior U.S. Judge Edwin M. Kosik who rejected the plea deal. Do you think the Judge is sending a message? "You escaped my courtroom once but it won't happen a second time."
As the Times Leader published ’91 case casting shadows on today
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"
1 comment:
They should find out what connections Conahan has to the Phlly Mob.
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