Hazleton Merchants Look For Help

Standard Speaker writer Jim Dino covered a meeting of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce's Downtown Committee on Tuesday. MinSec quickly became a topic of those gathered to discuss the spat of crime including a recent double-murder in Hazleton.
You can read the article by clicking here.

What I found amazing was the listing by "homegal" in the comments section of all the inmates at MinSec who were involved in incidents during their stay there.

The following incidents, culled from Times Leader archives and media reports, have occurred since then:
Nov. 8, 2008: Convicted burglar James Reynaldo Mercado, 21, escapes from MinSec.

July 30, 2009: Allen Fernandez is released from MinSec, picked up in Hazleton by members of a gang who drove him to Ransom Township, Lackawanna County, and shot him 12 times.

April 2, 2009: Jamie “Cuba” Torres-Dominguez absconds from MinSec.

April 12, 2009: Julio Cesar Gonzales absconds from MinSec and is shot by an alleged drug dealer outside Station 33 on Diamond Avenue, Hazleton.

June 6, 2009: Nelson Roberto Rodriguez walks away from MinSec.

Sept. 13, 2009: MinSec resident Richard Torres is arrested on charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Sept. 23, 2009: Convicted robber Nicholas A. Cusatis absconds from MinSec.

Sept. 29, 2009: MinSec resident William Tierno is charged with robbery.

Oct. 28, 2009: Tierno is charged with additional robberies.

Oct. 29, 2009: Media report that Tierno stated he was introduced to crack cocaine and was able to break curfew while a resident of MinSec.

Nov. 11, 2009: Cusatis is apprehended by the state Board of Probation and Parole.

Nov. 29, 2009: Russell Ryder walks away from MinSec.

Jan. 1, 2010: Ryder allegedly steals cigarettes from CeeBee’s, West Broad Street, Hazleton.

Jan. 9, 2010: Ryder allegedly smashes a window and steals cigarettes from Pantry Quik, Diamond Avenue, Hazleton.

Jan. 14, 2010: Former MinSec resident Norman Kane is charged with theft from Blockbuster Video, Hazleton.

March 12, 2010: MinSec resident Joseph Stephens, of Chambersburg, allegedly tries to steal an iPod speaker system from Boscov’s in Hazle Township.

March 16, 2010: Former MinSec resident Derrick Davidson, of Hazleton, allegedly throws a bag of urine at Hazleton police while in a holding cell after being arrested.

March 21, 2010: Marvin Brown escapes from MinSec through a back door after an argument with security about a cell phone.

March 23, 2010: MinSec walk-away Nelson Roberto Rodriguez allegedly stabs a man on Carleton Avenue, Hazleton.

April 2, 2010: Edward Eugene Hardy, previously convicted of aggravated assault, fails to return to MinSec.

April 3, 2010: Hardy is captured by police on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.

April 4, 2010: Torres-Dominguez, who absconded from MinSec a year ago, allegedly robs Craig’s Food Mart, Hazleton.

April 5, 2010: MinSec resident Jeffrey Wright allegedly robs M&T Bank, Hazleton.

April 6, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Dollar General, Hazleton.

April 6, 2010: Wright absconds from MinSec.

April 8, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Turkey Hill, Sugarloaf Township.

April 11, 2010: Torres-Dominguez allegedly robs Craig’s Food Mart, Hazleton, again.

April 14, 2010: Wright allegedly robs M&T Bank in Hazleton again.

April 2010: MinSec resident on work release at City Hall uses computer to download pornography.

May 2010: MinSec resident Luis Lozada-Colon is charged with stealing a CD player.

May 2010: Remus Marks, who failed to return to MinSec, is charged with causing a disturbance on North Bennett Court, Hazleton.

June 30, 2010: Convicted thief Sean M. Vought escapes from MinSec.

July 12, 2010: Sean M. Vought is captured by Lehighton police. State police said he fled there with his girlfriend, whom he met while at MinSec.

July 13, 2010 – Torres-Dominguez is captured.

Jan. 16, 2011: MinSec resident Rubin Correa is caught on videotape at First Presbyterian Church, right across the street, allegedly stealing a leather coat and rummaging through other clothing articles and drawers in the church during services.

Jan. 27, 2011: MinSec resident James Edward Heller allegedly robs bank in Pike County, leads police on high-speed chase back to Hazleton area.

Jan. 31, 2011: MinSec resident Charles Humphrey is charged with retail theft at Boscov’s, Hazle Township
This was posted today in the Times Leader. Thought it was worth a read to Hazleton people.

MinSec's Approval Process In Hazleton Part 2

MinSec's location, Altamont Building, Downtown Hazleton

The last post on MinSec dealt with its application before the Zoning Hearing Board at its meeting of October 18,2007.

Continuing with the testimony offered at the hearing Attorney Giuliani, representing MinSec, called Edward Pane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Serento Gardens, to testify. During his testimony found on page 20 of the transcript Mr. Pane opined about MinSec's operation.

Basically, this is an extension of what we have benn doing. It is a highly complemetary relationship. We're really kind of in business (that) vertically integrates building into a place where there's an outpatient center, an inpatient center.

Mr. Jonathan Wasp, facility director of MinSec's Scranton operation , was called back to testify. He stated found on page 25:

You know, the licensure we have through the Department of Health in our Scranton location, which will also be the same license that we'll be pursuing here, makes us a non-hospital inpatient drug treatment program.

However, on page 23, Mr. Wasp offered this testimony on the percentage of serious incidents that could be expected as a result of the approval and establishing a resident population in the Altamont.

So yeah,, I would say the incidents are relatively low. And it really depends on the structure of the program. I would encourage you, I would encourage the community to become familiar with our handbook. It's public information. It's available through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website. See how our program runs...

Back to Attorney Giuliani's questioning found on page 29 to Mr. Pane.

Mr. Giuliani: I just want to ask Mr. Pane something because this is what he told me. The basic difference, Mr. Pane, between what MinSec wants to do and what you're doing is that they're inpatient and you're outpatient?


Mr. Pane: That's correct.

Mr. Giuliano: There's no other difference, right?

Mr. Pane: That's correct.

On page 31 of the testimony Attorney Giuliani makes this statement.

What I'm saying is if there's a question as to whether you have the authority to do-- I mean, it's already been given to add for a whole floor and the only--- that's my point, the only difference between what they're suggesting and what Ed is doing is that one is residential and the other is not.

Onto page 32.

Mr. Giuliani: I just want to repeat something. The people who are buying it are also the peoplw who are making-- who are talking to MinSec, which is important. Mr. Amiano is goint to sell it to him, and then I would imagine that if you're going to do anything else differently than what they're asking for the second, third -- or fourth and fifth floor, they'd have to come here to do that as a use.

Mr. Paletski, Vice Chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board of Hazleton City asks a question found on page 39 and 40. Jonathan Wasp answers the question.

Mr. PALESTSKI: One question. I'm looking at the article from the Times Tribune here and it says, Man was part of minimal security prisoner form the MinSec housing center. Are these residents minimum security prisoners or have they released?

Mr. WASP: In the same way that you were misquoted in today's paper, so was he, apparently. I think people make the logical extension that MinSec is -- the first three letters are MIN, the first three letters of security, and they say must be a minimum security prison.


As I said, we take parole cases. We take self-paid patients. We take individuals who were referred to us by single county authorities in other locations, federal cases. So, no. I wouldn't say it's limited to prisoners, but we're taking somebody who simply can't afford it....

Let's take a look at a Standard Speaker article from February 12, 2010.

Questions persist about Hazleton halfway house
By Kelly Monitz (Staff Writer)

Members of the chamber's Downtown Committee recently met with MinSec's Jonathon Wasp, vice president of treatment services, and Doug Albertson, facility director, to learn more about the facility in the former Altamont Hotel, chamber President Donna Palermo said.

However, they were left with more questions than answers, she said.

"We thought it was a halfway house," she said. "Jonathon Wasp from MinSec stated that it was a minimum security prison. ...That is how they came by their name, MinSec.

"I think everyone is confused on what it really is," Palermo said.

The facility, which is contracted by the state Department of Corrections to provide community corrections services, has operated for about two years, expanding from two floors in the historic structure to five floors in the past year.

Back to the testimony.

Mr. PALETSKI: So some may be work release prisoners, some may be--

Mr. WASP: Well, we have some that are probation and parole--

and page 41

Mr. GIULIANI: And I suggest that this is a use that has already been used in that building.

Finally, the board convenes an executive session with is reconvened at 8:48 P.M. found on page 45.

Mr. SCHADDER: Next application is that of MinSec Companies, LLC, requesting a use variance for an operation of a residential skilled development transitional living treatment program to be located at 145 West Broad Street, a CZ Zone.

I'd like to make this contingent upon fire, health and safety codes as well as local, state, and federal licensing requirements. I'd like to make a motion to approve.

MinSec's handbook referred to in testimony is found here. From its Welcome:

Welcome to MinSec Hazelton Treatment Center

This facility, in many ways, will represent the hardest part of the correctional process for you.

One lingering question hangs like a blanket of clouds building before a thunderstorm casting gray and black shadows. Since the Department of Corrections labels MinSec as a Community Corrections Center is that the same thing as a "residential skilled development transitional living treatment program"? Does a CZ zone allow the placement of a community corrections center in it? Does Hazleton code have a licensing mechanism for a community corrections center or facility?

MinSec- A Tale Of Misdirection For Approval?

Application ZA-116-07- MinSec Companies, LLC requesting a use variance for the operation of a residential skilled development transitional living treatment program located at 145 West Broad Street, the Altamont Building, a CZ Zone

That statement comes from the transcript of the proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board of Hazleton City on October 18, 2007. Hold onto that thought as you read this post. There are many who blamed former Mayor Lou Barletta for the placement of MinSec in downtown Hazleton. Let's see what the record states. Let's see what the press left out in its coverage of the approval process because of the obvious bias present at the Standard Speaker against Lou Barletta and now Mayor Joe Yannuzzi.

Attorney Henry Giuliani represented MinSec before the Zoning Hearing Board at these proceedings. He called several witnesses including Ed Pane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Serento Gardens, Jonathan Wasp, Vice President of Treatment Services MinSec, and Anthony Amiano, owner of The Altamont who was leasing the building to Visionary Companies, LLC on behalf of MinSec, LLC.

Mr. Wasp was called to testify and his testimony starts on page 6 of the transcript. He states he is "a facility director of a treatment program in Scranton, MinSec Scranton." "I currently serve as the facility director, so I do the administrative oversight and problematic considerations for our Scranton location. He states he will be the facility director, at least temporarily in Hazleton.

Q. Would you describe the mission of MinSec?

A. We provide transition living programs for adult males. Each of our programs are a little bit different. The programs we operate in Philadelphia, some of them operate with federal contracts, some with state contracts, some with county contracts. Our Scranton program operates entirely on state contracts. And at this point our consideration for Hazleton would be state contracts here as well.

Q. And what kind of referrals do you get?

A. We take adult males. The residents who are referred to our program have a number of issues that we do assessments on. The consideration we're giving at this time is for an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program.

Q. How many beds would there be in the Hazleton project?

A. At this point in time we're looking at two floors, floors 4 and 5. So we currently at this point we've considered 50, 25 per floor.

Q. How many employees would there be?

A. Because we're regulated by the Department of Health which as an entity that's solely responsible for this type of program, drug and alcohol programs...and he goes on to explain staffing..

MinSec's main purpose is not a "drug and alcohol treatment program" according to its own website.

MinSec is a leading provider of private community correctional centers.

MinSec's primary correctinal focus and expertise: Developing and operating community correctional facilities.

Jack Sommers is the Director of the Bureaus of Community Corrections within the Department of Corrections.

This bureau is responsible for residential facilities located in various Pennsylvania communities. These facilities, also known as half-way houses, provide a transitional process by allowing residents monitored contact with jobs and educational opportunities. The facilities house inmates in prerelease status and inmates granted parole by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. The department also contracts with private vendors to provide specialized treatment and supervision service, many in the area of substance abuse programming.

This document from the Department of Corrections was issued September 17, 2008. Policy Subject: Community Corrections Centers

It states "II. APPLICABILITY
This policy is applicable to all facilities operated under the jurisdiction of, or conducting business with the Department of Corrections.

III. POLICY

It is the policy of the Department to provide housing and transitional services to residents of Community Corrections Centers and Community Contract Facilities until such time that a resident is released."

Section 21 – Specialized Community Corrections Centers

A. Location

The Specialized Community Corrections Centers (CCCs) are as follows:

1. Region 1 – Kintock-Erie;

2. Region 2 – Harrisburg CCC and Minsec of Hazelton; and

3. Region 3 – Renewal Inc. and Erie CCC.

B. Inmate Accountability and Daily Operations

An inmate paroled to a designated Specialized CCC will be subject to a morestructured/controlled daily routine.

I ask you to draw your own conclusions from the testimony and the information provided whether the testimony offered before the Zoning Hearing Board of Hazleton City was accurate and precise or general and misdirection. Is MinSec under the auspices of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health? Are the services they provide part of a community correctional facility or a health services facility?

Mr. Kanjorski's Nut Comments About How Bad Hazleton Looks

In yesterday's Times Leader Congressman Paul Kanjorski went on the offense against his formidable opponent, Mayor Lou Barletta, after being "hit" with so many rights(points) he was begging for a left(bailout). Here is a comment that I want to specifically debunk as categorically untrue.

Kanjorski said he would be happy to answer any questions Barletta has, but only after Barletta tells him a few things. Kanjorski wants Barletta to tell him: Why Hazleton city looks “as bad as it does.” Well, Mr. Kanjorski get your answers ready because here are mine to your misguided point. By the way you are about to see pictures of Broad Street in Hazleton. Do you remember calling it Main Street? You must have confused yourself with the Kanjorski Center located on Main Street in Nanticoke.

All of the following pictures were taken on Saturday July 3, 2010 at between 8:30 and 9:30 in the morning. Click on each picture to get a larger view.

Downtown Hazleton

Does downtown Hazleton really look that bad? I have read how "dirty" the streets are in Hazleton. Do you see that in this picture?

Let's take a look at more of downtown Hazleton. Here's a picture of the Broad Street Exchange.

How dirty are the streets in this picture? Is the building that deplorable to support you assertion of how bad Hazleton looks? Congressman, when was the last time you visited the city you want to continue to represent?

Oh I'm only getting started. How about the Hayden Tower, a $9 plus million dollar project in downtown Hazleton that replaced old worn out buildings?

I can hear you now- "Boy does that look terrible." Let's see Paul, the Haydens spent $9 million and created many recurring permanent jobs. How did that "hopey changey" thing with Cornerstone Technologies work out for you? Again how are those streets looking folks?

Let's start going west on Broad Street leaving downtown proper. Here is a look at the J.J. Ferrara Center for the Performing Arts. Many venues are held here including Hispanic events that I personally attended.

The road work sign is part of the Broad Street Corridor project that is widening Broad Street from 15th Street in West Hazleton east through downtown Hazleton up to its conclusion past the Hazleton General Hospital which is featured in a picture later in this post. It is a $12 million dollar project. Imagine how bad Hazleton is going to look at its conclusion?


Now the onto the Hazleton Shopping Center

Looks terribly bad doesn't it Paul?

And the most recent tenant in the shopping center, the Mirakuya restaurant, opened by James Feng who also owns the Wilkes Barre location. I count about 15 people working in the restaurant, mostly Chinese. How's that false story that Barletta is chasing immigrants out of town working out?

Mirakuya Japanese Restuarant serves up more than just food on a plate from May 10, 2010

If you go one block off Broad Street you might stumble onto the Pine Street Neighborhood project that won numerous state and federal awards for design and being "Green".

Does this neighborhood make Hazleton look bad????

Travel to the Heights section of Hazleton to see the renovated Prestolite building that was a terrible eyesore. After millions invested by Manhattan developer Roger Soler look at the site now know as the Terrace Plaza. The Heritage Fresh Food Market is the anchor store employing dozens of workers.

And for those who keep referring to MinSec as a prison instead of a halfway house here is a picture of the Altamont Hotel, the location of the MinSec operation. Doesn't look like any prison I ever saw.

Now that's a prison but I guarantee its not located anywhere in the entire Hazleton area.

We are almost there. Here is a look at the Greater Hazleton Health Alliance Hospital and Kentucky Fried Chicken in the front of it on East Broad Street, another demonstration on how bad Hazleton looks.

Last but what I consider the most important sight on Broad Street is the recently constructed Fallen Soldier's Memorial located at the BPOE Elks facility 635 E. Broad Street. Readers, those are memorial bricks available for purchase to honor a veteran who may be a family member or friend. You can call the Elks at 454-3901 to make the arrangements.

I trust this web tour will put to rest the constant degradation of a community that is the pride of its residents. It isn't the nut with the camera, Paul, it is the nut making the statements in front of the camera, on radio, and in the press.

Toohil's Response To Eachus Position On MinSec

Toohil: MinSec’s Promises for Change are Inadequate

(Response to April 30, 2010 Standard Speaker article)

Hazleton, PA – Today, April 30, 2010, it is being reported that “changes are coming to MinSec.” These changes, such as phasing out the pre-release program, improving management of the facility, and imposing stricter standards for permitting residents to leave on pass, were previously reported. New promises for change seem to have bought the facility more time. However, it is questionable as to what has really changed. Tarah Toohil, candidate for State Representative in the 116th Legislative District, looked to the facts. The reality is that during this month, the list of incidents continued to grow.

April 3, 2010 Police apprehend Edward E. Hardee, 48, one day after he failed to return to MinSec by his 4 p.m. curfew. MinSec employees finally reported him missing at 12:48 a.m. Nearly nine hours after he had absconded.

April 5, 2010 Jeffrey P. Wright, 30, another MinSec resident, is reported to have admitted to robbing M&T Bank, 223 W. Broad Street. Wright is speculated to have absconded on either April 5th or April 6th.

April 8, 2010 A MinSec resident accessed pornography on a City Hall computer causing the computer to contract a virus which had to be removed by a computer technician.

April 12, 2010 Police report that Jeffrey P. Wright and an accomplice attempted to rob three different banks within walking distance of MinSec: First National Community Bank, PNC Bank, and M&T Bank.

Toohil stated, "If MinSec has made changes as they claim, these changes are obviously insufficient. The reality is that MinSec’s residents are a danger to our city. How many crimes must be committed in order for the state to realize that MinSec is not doing its job?" MinSec has hired a spokesperson to improve community relations. State funding should not be used to hire a spokesperson for MinSec. Toohil argued that the state funding should be used to protect the community from MinSec’s residents. .








Tarah Toohil said, "It is obvious that MinSec’s residents pose a real threat to our public safety. All of these fancy answers and promises for change are not enough to overlook the harm that MinSec has brought to our community and is still bringing. MinSec’s state funding must be halted. In the interim, this minimum security prison should be put on lockdown until its administrators figure out how to control the problems that are continually arising."

Eachus Tries To Fool People About MinSec

There is one sure thing about an election year. So much posturing goes on that one needs to separate out fact from fiction.

In a report filed by Kelly Monitz of the Standard Speaker today Todd Eachus trie to stake claim for changes purportedly coming to the MinSec facility located in downtown Hazleton. The headline is fitting "Change coming to MinSec". Yeah right just like Obama promised change. It happened it wasn't the change the people expected or wanted.

Here's what hockey puck looks like. The state Department of Corrections agreed to make changes at a halfway house in Hazleton's downtown following House Majority Leader Todd Eachus' call for the state to terminate its contract with MinSec Companies earlier this month.

Pre-release cases will no longer be placed at the facility, Eachus said. Those on pre-release are finishing the remainder of their sentences in a halfway house, rather than in prison

Now here is the fact from an April 14, 2010 article written by the same reporter. Barletta, who questioned the facility, met with officials from the state Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole and MinSec last week to discuss problems and crimes in the community.

The DOC did give the city some reassurances regarding other issues at the facility, and promised changes would be made, Barletta said.

Some of those changes include not allowing MinSec to develop the last floor in the historical Altamont Building at 145 W. Broad St., and discontinuing the practice of sending pre-release cases to the facility, the mayor said.

MinSec had accepted men on parole and in pre-release program, in which an inmate finishes out the last of his state sentence in the halfway house, instead of prison. Pre-releases will be phased out, Barletta said.

The company will also be stricter on giving out passes to go into the community, limit personal time and change the curfew from 10 p.m. to 7 p.m., except for those men who work second or third shift, he said.

But these are issues between the Department of Corrections and MinSec, Barletta said. The city's issue remains zoning, he said. It was Barletta, not Eachus, who secured the assurances for the City. How Eachus could try to hoodwink the public when the documentation states otherwise speaks to his real character.

There is another problem that Eachus fails to address over MinSec's operation. MinSec hired a public relations person, Kate Philips, who had served as Gov. Ed Rendell's press secretary, earlier this month. She could not be reached for comment for this story.

According to this article from Monitz in February Pennsylvania taxpayers will be paying for that public relations person. The facility, which is contracted by the state Department of Corrections to provide community corrections services,

Also in that article it chronicles the crime spree that occured over a period of time from MinSec occupants.

MinSec came into the limelight, though, after a series of burglaries in the area were linked to residents who walked off from the facility or returned to crime after their release. In addition, a resident was picked up in Hazleton then murdered in Lackawanna County last summer by gang members from Scranton.


One former resident blamed the facility's lax security and poor rehabilitation services for his relapse into drugs and crime following 16 years in prison.

According to this article written once again by Monitz back in October, 2009 Eachus wrote a letter to the Department of Corrections with his concerns. The big question for Eachus is why he didn't scream and holler while these crimes were being committed since that letter was written.

The latest article on Eachus and MinSec seem to gloriy him.  Maybe bias isn't only part of the Wilkes Barre media.