Back on May 13, 2010 Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania et al jointly announced the filing of a criminal information pursuant to an ongoing investigation targeting public corruption in northeast Pennsylvania against Russell Arnone, former Jenkins Township Supervisor relating to the corrupt receipt of a reward for official action and failed to disclose this knowledge to federal investigators. At that time the person giving the "award" for official action was not identified. He resigned his position on May 10, 2010 before the charges were filed.
The Times Leader is reporting that Arnone plead guilty today where he admitted to taking a $5,000 cash payment from developer Robert Mericle in return for the lowering of building permit fees he accepted the money as a campaign contribution but did not report it.
Mericle faces charges in connections to payments he made to two judges in the Luzerne County Courthouse corruption scandal. U.S. officials declined comment on whether Mericle would face charges in this case. Arnone's sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2010.
Back in 2001 a person named Russell Arnone worked for Luzerne County as director of Personnel and Budget where he authored a position paper on liberal leave for county workers. I guess he will be writing a new one on permanent leave.
So this issue begs the question regarding many campaign contributions on the campaign finance reports of elected officials. How many other elected officials were paid through campaign contributions for decisions with respect to their elected positions?
Anyone with information is asked to call the public corruption task force tip line toll free at 1-866-996-4320.
Showing posts with label guilty plea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guilty plea. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Seven Plead Guilty To Charges Leveled By AG Corbett In Bonusgate
Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau reporter Tracie Mauriello is reporting that seven defendants in the Bonusgate/corruption investigation by AG Tom Corbett plead guilty yesterday.
Rachel Manzo- former employee of Todd Eachus
Michael Manzo- former chief of staff to state Rep. Bill DeWeese
Scott Brubaker- the former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic caucus
Jennifer Brubaker- former director of the Democratic Office of Research
Earl Mosley- a former personnel director
Patrick "P.J." Lavelle- a former research analyst aka political campaign fund raiser
Jeff Foreman- former chief counsel to Majority Whip Keith McCall
To grasp the greed that goes on in Harrisburg take a look at the salaries paid to 33 House staffers alone in 2007 that exceeded $100,000 per year. Many are on the list of quilty pleas.
Micahel Manzo- $141, 402.00
Scott Brubaker- $122,564.00
Jeff Foreman- $126,204.00
You can read the bonuses paid to these people at the link.
Rachel Manzo- former employee of Todd Eachus
Michael Manzo- former chief of staff to state Rep. Bill DeWeese
Scott Brubaker- the former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic caucus
Jennifer Brubaker- former director of the Democratic Office of Research
Earl Mosley- a former personnel director
Patrick "P.J." Lavelle- a former research analyst aka political campaign fund raiser
Jeff Foreman- former chief counsel to Majority Whip Keith McCall
To grasp the greed that goes on in Harrisburg take a look at the salaries paid to 33 House staffers alone in 2007 that exceeded $100,000 per year. Many are on the list of quilty pleas.
Micahel Manzo- $141, 402.00
Scott Brubaker- $122,564.00
Jeff Foreman- $126,204.00
You can read the bonuses paid to these people at the link.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Guilty, Guilty, And Guilty
On the national political front Democrats are dropping like flies. Senator Dodd announced his retirement after he realized the cost of supporting BarWhacky Obama's policies. Dodd's announcement comes on the heels of Sen. Byron Dorgan's, D-N.D., surprise decision to retire instead of seeking re-election this year. Democrats also lost two embattled gubernatorial candidates in Colorado and Michigan yesterday.
Locally football legend Greg Skrepenak is scheduled to plead guilty on January 26th. Doug Richards took his medicine this afternoon by pleading guilty in federal court to accepting a bribe.
While Skrep the Schlep is "bracing" to plead guilty Bill Brace plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Munley for accepting a bribe in exchange for influencing the award of a contract.
Not a great day for Democrats.
Locally football legend Greg Skrepenak is scheduled to plead guilty on January 26th. Doug Richards took his medicine this afternoon by pleading guilty in federal court to accepting a bribe.
While Skrep the Schlep is "bracing" to plead guilty Bill Brace plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Munley for accepting a bribe in exchange for influencing the award of a contract.
Not a great day for Democrats.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Bonner No Longer Associated With Luzerne County
After pleading guilty to passing a $1,400.00 bribe Gerald J. Bonner through his attorney stated he will no longer serve as a Luzerne County Jury Commissioner or on the county's housing authority board. You can read Michale Sisak's article here.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Michale T. Toole Enters Guilty Plea In Federal Court
According to the Times Leader's Terri Morgan-Besecker Judge Michael T. Toole has entered a guilty plea to two charges in federal court yesterday.
A subdued Toole appeared before U.S. District Judge Richard P. Conaboy to plead guilty to charges of honest services fraud and tax evasion.
“Your honor, with the strength of my faith and the support of my family and friends, I take complete responsibility for what I’ve done and will accept whatever punishment the court imposes,” Toole told Conaboy during the 45-minute hearing.
What Toole did, prosecutors say, is “corruptly abuse” his position as a judge to improperly influence an uninsured motorist arbitration case that came before him in 2006. In a separate matter, he also failed to report on his income taxes a $30,000 fee he received from another attorney.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not identified the attorneys involved in either case. Details contained in the charges indicate the attorney involved in the arbitration case was Harry Cardoni of Kingston. A source familiar with the probe identified the attorney who paid the referral fee as Robert Powell of Butler Township.
A subdued Toole appeared before U.S. District Judge Richard P. Conaboy to plead guilty to charges of honest services fraud and tax evasion.
“Your honor, with the strength of my faith and the support of my family and friends, I take complete responsibility for what I’ve done and will accept whatever punishment the court imposes,” Toole told Conaboy during the 45-minute hearing.
What Toole did, prosecutors say, is “corruptly abuse” his position as a judge to improperly influence an uninsured motorist arbitration case that came before him in 2006. In a separate matter, he also failed to report on his income taxes a $30,000 fee he received from another attorney.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not identified the attorneys involved in either case. Details contained in the charges indicate the attorney involved in the arbitration case was Harry Cardoni of Kingston. A source familiar with the probe identified the attorney who paid the referral fee as Robert Powell of Butler Township.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Bonner Pleads Guilty
Bonner Pleads Guilty To Passing A Bribe With the lastest arrests in the corruption probe by AG Tom Corbett and the FBI arresting Democrat after Democrat in Luzerne County why aren't Democratic Leaders coming out leading the cry for meaningful reform? Hiding won't solve the problem. If they want to survive they need to address this crisis head-on. But then again the Democrats greatest claim is continual vilification of George Bush which is quickly running out of steam.
To illustrate my point go on over to John Micek's Capitol Ideas column from yesterday and read about the arrogance of Bill DeWeeese who exhibits no humility for the veracity of complaint against him.
Around 8 p.m. or so last night, DeWeese wandered onto the House floor for the first time since charges were announced earlier in the day. On the Democratic side of the aisle, he was greeted with claps on the back and with handshakes.
It was an incongruous gesture given the gravity of the charges that had been lodged against him. A few minutes later, he gave a speech from the House floor -- the last he'll give as a member of the House Democratic leadership, we expect.
"I've had a tough day," he said dryly, before going on to thank his colleagues for the visits, calls and e-mails that had apparently filtered in throughout the day on Tuesday. "I've enjoyed being Democratic Whip," he went on to say. "And for all those of you who have shown support ... I am grateful."
At the close of his remarks, DeWeese was greeted with a standing ovation. Another incongruous gesture. Not that we were expecting an Amish shunning or anything like that, but we couldn't help but wonder what the proper balance was between respect for DeWeese's three-decade tenure and opprobrium for the way it had ended.
To illustrate my point go on over to John Micek's Capitol Ideas column from yesterday and read about the arrogance of Bill DeWeeese who exhibits no humility for the veracity of complaint against him.
Around 8 p.m. or so last night, DeWeese wandered onto the House floor for the first time since charges were announced earlier in the day. On the Democratic side of the aisle, he was greeted with claps on the back and with handshakes.
It was an incongruous gesture given the gravity of the charges that had been lodged against him. A few minutes later, he gave a speech from the House floor -- the last he'll give as a member of the House Democratic leadership, we expect.
"I've had a tough day," he said dryly, before going on to thank his colleagues for the visits, calls and e-mails that had apparently filtered in throughout the day on Tuesday. "I've enjoyed being Democratic Whip," he went on to say. "And for all those of you who have shown support ... I am grateful."
At the close of his remarks, DeWeese was greeted with a standing ovation. Another incongruous gesture. Not that we were expecting an Amish shunning or anything like that, but we couldn't help but wonder what the proper balance was between respect for DeWeese's three-decade tenure and opprobrium for the way it had ended.
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