Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > News Items
Jailing Kids For Cash
Ursus:
Jeez... Now we're talking 'bout possible Mob connections... :eek:
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[Local news video coverage of the following story accessible from title link.]
Local news / Wilkes-Barre, PA
Local Newspaper Files Petition in Supreme Court in Relation to Corruption
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 @04:15pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The owners of the Citizens Voice newspaper will file a petition in the state supreme court today claiming that suspended judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan have direct connections to jailed mobster William D'elia. It centers around a multi-million dollar judgment against the newspaper in a defamation lawsuit.
The Citizens' Voice newspaper is reporting that their lawyers will file a petition with the state supreme court to vacate and throw out a $3.5 million dollar defamation verdict issued by suspended judge Mark Ciavarella in June of 2006 following a non jury verdict. Ciavarella ruled in favor of a West Pitttston businessman, who claimed he was defamed in a series of special reports in 2001. Those reports came after federal agents raided his business as well as homes owned by D'elia and others.
The newspaper owners say they will produce a witness that will testify that one or both of the now disgraced judges had connection to William "Big Billy" D'elia. D'elia 62, is the longtime reputed head of the Buffalino crime family and is serving a 9 year prison term for money laundering and witness tampering.
The newspaper alleges that then president judge Michael Conahan and his first cousin, William Sharkey, steered the case into the hands of Ciavarella for a favorable ruling.
The newspaper petition alleges that Ciavarella issued one sided rulings and ignored evidence that the businessman and D'elia were close associates. The newspapers petition in part reads: the scope and subject of the newspaper articles in question. "A cascade of recent revelations of corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse strongly suggests the $3.5 million dollar verdict was rigged."
This latest revelation has people talking. Larry Pasbach of Dallas says, "I've never seen it as bad as it is here. I've lived in Chicago… Chicago is kids play compared to what happening here."
Civalrella and Conahan face 7 years in prison for taking kickbacks in connection with a private juvenile system, and Sharkey, the former court administrator, faces up to 10 years for stealing $70,000 in confiscated money.
Copyright (c) 1998 - 2009 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
psy:
I hope the feds take this investigation further than PA. I have no doubt this sort of thing is common across the nation.
Ursus:
[Local news video coverage of the following story accessible from title link.]
Local news / Wilkes-Barre, PA
Fourth Arrest in Courthouse Case
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 @08:18pm EST
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County - Sandy Brulo is a powerbroker in Luzerne County court. Tonight she is an accused felon. Eyewitness News is told she tampered with public records.
Sandy Brulo says nothing and stares straight ahead as she walked with her lawyer out of federal court in Wilkes-Barre. In fact, some say she looks "glazed over". The 56 year old was the deputy director of forensic programs in the juvenile probation office. She was there for 26 years.
This is where Brulo worked inside Penn Place office building, basically a courthouse annex. Investigators say she changed public records involving at least one juvenile case from February 1st to the 20th. Today this comes as civil suits are being filed against the county involving juvenile cases.
Brulo's office worked closely with former President Judge Mark Ciavarella when he handed down punishment. Ciavarella is accused of sending teenagers to a private detention facility, in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks. This was a kids' for cash scheme.
Federal agents say she altered a juvenile record with the intent to impair its integrity for use in federal proceedings. She faces 20 years in prison and a $250,000 dollar fine. She is the fourth Luzerne County official charged by the U.S. attorney's office, including judges Civarella, Conahan and former court administrator William Sharkey.
For taxpayers, it's almost too much to believe. Jim Swafford, a taxpayer says, "It makes you wonder if the judicial system is completely broken or not because a lot of people got hurt for money. It shouldn't be that way." Tabitha Swafford, another taxpayer says, "I feel bad for the familiy's kids that were sent there. It wasn't necessary to go there. They had to go through hard times and it just wasn't necessary for them."
Judge Chester Muroski suspended Brulo without pay. She is free on her own recognizance. She will have a hearing on March 20th at federal court in Wilkes-Barre.
Copyright (c) 1998 - 2009 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Ursus:
The plot thickens. One has to wonder just how much Moran knows, given that she saw fit resign at this hour...
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[Local news video coverage of the following story accessible from title link.]
Local news / Wilkes-Barre, PA
High Ranking Luzerne Co. Official Resigns
Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Feb 23, 2009 @09:50pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- A high ranking Luzerne County official has abruptly turned in her resignation. It comes as federal investigators continue their probe into corruption at the courthouse.
Eyewitness News has confirmed that Luzerne County Prothonatary Jill Moran will resign. The governor's office confirms that she sent them a letter saying she would step down from her position.
Moran says she is resigning effective March 13th, because the circumstances in the Luzerne County Courthouse are making her presence in the office a distraction. She says she is resigning so that the office may continue to operate effectively.
The circumstances she is talking about are of course the ongoing federal probe into corruption at the courthouse. Four officials have been charged, including county Judges Mark Ciavarealla and Michael Conahan, Court Administrator William Sharkey, Sr. and most recently Probation Supervisor Sandy Brulo.
Moran has not been charged in that investigation, but she is the law partner of Attorney Robert Powell of Butler Township. He also has not been charged, but has been mentioned in the probes involving Ciavarella and Conahan.
He was one of the owners of a child care center at the focus of a "kids for cash" scheme. Powell insists he was being extorted by the judges for money in connection with the operation of that center.
The I-Team has learned that Moran has been questioned in that federal investigation, but has not been charged.
We spoke to her last week about the ongoing investigation. All she would say then is she is in her office making sure the work of the people gets done. She would not comment on any investigation. She was not in the office on Monday.
The governor's office will have to name a replacement.
Copyright (c) 1998 - 2009 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Ursus:
[Local news video coverage of the following story accessible from title link.]
Local news / Wilkes-Barre, PA
Moran Cuts Deal With U.S. Attorney
Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 @05:30pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The I-Team has learned that the U.S. Attorney's office has filed information regarding Luzerne County Prothonatary Jill Moran. This comes one day after she announced that she would resign.
The U.S. Attorney's office filed the paperwork at federal court in Scranton around 10:30 this morning. It says that Moran has agreed to resign her position as Prothonatary and will cooperate with federal investigators. It says she came forward with information about corruption and fraud at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
The 12-page document details Moran's cooperation with investigators. According to the agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Moran will not face criminal charges if she continues to cooperate with the investigation. Moran says she will work with investigators to prevent future fraud against the people of the United States.
This comes one day after Moran announced that she would step down as of March 13th. Her name has come up in media reports about the corruption investigation, since she is the law partner of Attorney Bob Powell of Butler Township.
Powell has been mentioned as part of a "kids for cash" scheme involving Judges Mark Ciavarella and Micheal Conahan. Powell says he was being extorted by the judges and did nothing wrong.
Copyright (c) 1998 - 2009 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
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