Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. Attorney: Ciavarella, Conahan agree to serve 87 months in prison (County Judges)
Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre PA) ^ | 1/26/09

Posted on 1/26/2009, 8:28:24 PM by Born Conservative

SCRANTON - Luzerne County judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan have agreed to plead guilty in connection to concealing $2.6 million from January 2003 to April 2007, and have agreed to serve 87 months - 7.25 years - in federal prison, Martin Carlson, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, said.

Ciavarella and Conahan also agreed to resign as judges within 10 days of federal court approval of their plea agreements, Carlson said during a Monday afternoon news conference.

Carlson called the acts, "A scheme to defraud the citizens of Luzerne County and the people of Pennsylvania."

Carlson said the investigation, which is on-going, alleged Ciavarella and Conahan engaged in fraud by taking millions of dollars in construction, operation and expansion of the juvenile detention center in Pittston Township and juvenile facilities elsewhere.

Carlson further alleged Ciavarella and Conahan pressured the Luzerne County Juvenile Probation Department and juvenile probation officers to detains juveniles at the detention center, despite recommendations by juvenile probation officers that detention was not warranted.

Carlson claimed Ciavarella and Conahan had a financial interest in the juvenile detention facility, and failed to disclose their financial interests as required for elected officials.

Luzerne County Judge Chester Muroski is acting as president judge until the full bench of judges elect a president judge. That election has not been scheduled.

Muroski has imposed a hiring, transfer and wage freeze for all court personnel, and hopes the lawsuit filed by Ciavarella against Luzerne County commissioners in connection to the 2009 budget is terminated.

"We will reevaluate the positions that have been taken as for personnel, we will do everything we can do come into a conformity with a uniform budget and I believe that given an opportunity with county commissioners, we will be able to do this," Muroski said. "As quickly as possible, we will terminate the lawsuit."

"This is a day I have waited for with great patience," Ann Lokuta, embattled Luzerne County judge, said. "If I had to sacrifice my judicial career to shed light on the corruption under the courthouse dome, that is what I had to do."

The state Court of Judicial Discipline removed Lokuta from the bench in December and prohibited her from ever holding another judicial office. The court had previously found Lokuta violated the canons of judicial conduct through her behavior on the bench.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: ciaveralla; conahan; kidsforcash; luzernecounty; muroski
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

1 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:28:25 PM by Born Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

Still no mention of political party....


2 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:32:47 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Previous thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2172090/posts


3 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:32:56 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama

Surprise surprise. I’m sure it’s “D”.

However, in Pennsylvania, a judge can file via as both a “D” and a “R”. Unless you research it, you have no way of knowing which party the candidate belongs to.


4 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:34:54 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative; All

Anyone notice that the more you steal, the less sanctions you tend to get?


5 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:37:02 PM by LuxMaker (The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, Thomas J 1819)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LuxMaker

I want to know if they have to give the stolen $2.6 million back!


6 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:38:53 PM by pandoraou812 (Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn! ...........^............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative; maggief

There are several sites that give out to whom they have contributed and several similar items....Mag may know what they are....


7 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:50:31 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama; FreeManN; Leisler; LuxMaker; pandoraou812

Here’s a little more background on what got them into trouble: http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2009/01/26/news/doc497dc95554044164280746.txt

“Ciavarella and Conahan played a key role in closing the county-owned juvenile detention center on River Street in Wilkes-Barre in 2002, around the same time Pennsylvania Child Care began building its detention and treatment facility in Pittston Township.

The county began sending juveniles to the Pennsylvania Child Care facility in 2003. “


8 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:51:22 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tribune7

Ping


9 posted on 1/26/2009, 8:52:17 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama; Born Conservative

From older news ... (no links)

JUDGE HOPEFUL CIAVARELLA STRESSES COURT EXPERIENCE
Times Leader, The (Wilkes Barre, PA) - Friday, April 7, 1995
Author: JIM VAN NOSTRAND; Times Leader Staff Writer
WILKES-BARRE — Mark Ciavarella Jr . won’t need any on-the-job training to be a Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas judge, he said Thursday.

Nineteen years as a local attorney and 132 trials, mostly civil cases, have given him the experience and temperament required to wear a judge’s robes, he said.

“I believe I can make an impact and a difference,” Ciavarella told The Times Leader’s Editorial Board. “I’m not going to need someone to teach me to be a judge.”

Ciavarella , 44, of Wilkes-Barre, is running against attorneys Joseph Giovannini, Joseph Yeager and Thomas Cometa for the seat now held by Luzerne County Judge Gifford Cappellini.

The job pays more than $93,000 a year, counting recent cost-of-living increases. The term is 10 years.

Cappellini will step down in December when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. He can still serve as a senior judge.

A registered Democrat , Ciavarella has cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican tickets for the May 16 primary. His opponents cross-filed as well.

(snip)

..

HAZLETON JUSTICE SEEKS JUDGE POST
Times Leader, The (Wilkes Barre, PA) - Sunday, February 28, 1993
Author: DIONNE PEEPLES-SALAH; Times Leader Staff Writer
WILKES-BARRE — Hazleton District Justice Michael Conahan , 41, cq said integrity and independence are important qualities of any judge. If elected as Luzerne County Judge he said he will work hard to uphold them.

Amid a crowd of family and friends, Conahan , a Democrat , announced Saturday that he would seek election to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

(snip)


10 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:02:44 PM by maggief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: maggief

CONTROVERSIES ASIDE, CONAHAN SAYS RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Times Leader, The (Wilkes Barre, PA) - Sunday, October 26, 2003
Author: DAVE JANOSKI davej@leader.net

EXCERPT

After the airing of those allegations early in his tenure, Conahan ‘s term on the bench was relatively quiet until he was elected president judge by his fellow judges late in 2001.

Since then, the 51-year-old registered Democrat has run afoul of two fellow county officials, Republican minority Commissioner Steve Urban and Democratic county Controller Steve Flood, on several issues...


11 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:08:11 PM by maggief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: maggief

Thanks Maggie your research is always the best!


12 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:10:14 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: maggief; hoosiermama

“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.”

http://www.citizensvoice.com/articles/2008/07/16/news/wb_voice.20080716.t.pg4.cv16cdconahan_s1.1812905_top2.txt


13 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:11:28 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

Was just wondering what he planned on paying his bills with in the future....Guess that post explains it.....Any other politicians involved?....Any earmarks from the FEDs to his projects?


14 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:15:14 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama

I’m SURE there are other politicians involved; they just weren’t outed. I’ll have to check on the earmarks.


15 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:19:01 PM by Born Conservative (Bohicaville: http://bohicaville.wordpress.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative; hoosiermama

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/articles/2008/07/16/local_news/19853588.txt

Judge Conahan’s name surfaced during Mr. Belletiere’s 1991 federal trial in the “Empire” drug case involving cocaine trafficking in Hazleton in the 1980s, when Judge Conahan was a magisterial district judge in the city.

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.

Judge Conahan was on the prosecution’s list of witnesses for the Belletiere trial but was not called to testify. 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.

In August 1994, Judge Conahan held a press conference to deny he had referred Mr. Belletiere to the DeAngelos, but he acknowledged knowing all three men, having represented their families in legal matters.

In a 2003 interview, Judge Conahan said he was exonerated by the Judicial Conduct Board, which has never commented publicly on the case. The board’s chief counsel, Joseph Massa Jr., said the board does not comment on investigations that do not lead to public charges.

Paul DeAngelo and Mr. Belletiere received reduced prison sentences in the “Empire” case upon the recommendation of federal prosecutors. Both were released in 1995. Neal DeAngelo was never charged.

The DeAngelo brothers, who operate DBi Services, which provides commercial services, including vegetation and road management, to government and business clients nationwide from its headquarters in Hazleton, did not respond to an interview request Tuesday.

Mr. Belletiere, 53, who lives in south Florida, did not respond to an interview request made through his daughter, Briana. She acknowledged her father had operated RAB Auto Sales Inc., but believed the company is no longer active.


16 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:29:37 PM by maggief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: FreeManN

Judge is involved with drugs....Sound familiar?


17 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:34:19 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative; maggief

DBi Services sounds familiar. Are they connected somehow to Illinois or Chicago?


18 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:39:28 PM by hoosiermama (Berg is a liberal democrat. Keyes is a conservative. Obama is bringing us together already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Born Conservative

“U.S. Attorney: Ciavarella, Conahan agree to serve 87 months in prison (County Judges)”

O.K. - now - Murtha!


19 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:51:52 PM by RoadTest (The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jer.17:9)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hoosiermama

site:www.dot.state.il.us “DEANGELO BROTHERS” illinois

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=+site:www.dot.state.il.us+%22DEANGELO+BROTHERS%22+illinois

In addition to DeAngelo Brothers inc., whose focus is on vegetation and industrial cleaning management services, Neal and Paul also own additional affiliated companies which help to accomplish their goals, all of which operate throughout the 30 locations and are supported out of the Hazleton Corporate Headquarters:

• Alenza, a division of DeAngelo Brothers Inc., is a national herbicide and equipment distributor.

• Aquagenix, another division of DeAngelo Brothers Inc., provides aquatic vegetation management services to golf courses, water management districts, industries and homeowner’s associations.

• DBI Services Corporation offers total asset management for state and municipal customers requiring multiple and/or all maintenance services for a designated portion of roadway.

• Interstate Road Management Corp., Hazleton, provides road management services, which include primarily pavement marking.

The foundation for their start in business, the lawn care division Lawn Specialties, is still being run out of Hazleton.

..

http://www.dbiservices.com/
http://www.dbiservices.com/history.asp

..

(no link)

City business buys mayor’s wife’s company
Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA) - Monday, November 20, 2000
Author: JAMES QUIRK JR. ; Standard-Speaker
A corporation owned by the wife of Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta will not relocate outside of the city, because of a sale to city business DeAngelo Brothers Inc. Tuesday.

Neal and Paul DeAngelo purchased 100 percent of the outstanding stock of Interstate Road Marking Corp., founded in 1984 by President Mary Grace Barletta.

..


20 posted on 1/26/2009, 9:54:52 PM by maggief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson