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The big headline today is that the Juvie Brothers have been hit with a 48 count indictment including racketeering, extortion, bribery, money laundering, fraud and tax violations. The details of the indictment haven't yet been reported on the US Attorney's website or in the press. Senior Judge Edwin M. Kosik rejected Michael Conahan's and Mark Ciavarella's plea agreement last month charging them with only 2 crimes and agreed with many of us that 7 years for taking bribes to lock up kids wasn't enough jail time for these 2 crooks. The maximum sentence is 25 years and the judge said the plea called for less jail time than normal sentencing guidelines. Reading his order he was especially miffed at their conduct since the guilty plea.
The Legal Intelligencer detailed many of their other crimes in a story in July and drops this bomb today.
A detailed complaint was filed against former Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan with the Judicial Conduct Board in 2006, alleging wide-spread corruption including case-fixing, mob ties and the improper placement of juveniles in a privately owned juvenile detention facility.
When asked who might have filed the complaint, several sources speculated that Lokuta had written it. Lokuta denied authoring the complaint.
Asked who had, Lokuta replied: "One of my staffers."
I think Ann may have had some input in writing the complaint. The JCB that voted to remove her from the bench also allowed Conahan and Ciavarella to testify against her. Conahan's business partner, Pat Judge, was one of the people who sat in judgement of her. Her fate is in the hands of the State Supreme Court.
Ex-judges hammered with 48 counts
Ex-judges hit with 48 counts
2 days ago
10 comments:
Superior Court Judge Jack Panella was on the Judicial Conduct Board in 2006 and now he is running for Supreme Court. Panella took a lot of campaign contributions from people from NEPA who have ties to the kids for cash gang. Don't vote for Panella for Supreme Court, if you are concerned about the kids for cash scandal.
If we had more people in the legal profession with the integrity of Ms. Lokuta, Mr. Conahan, and Mr. Ciavarella, the world would be a better place. I look forward to the day that all three of these upstanding citizens can return to their rightful place on the bench!
More charges to come for Conahan and Ciavarella.
Will their arrogance now stop?
Pat judge another fine young man what do you think old one
I hope Judge Lokuta gets her job back, and rightfully so. Her punishment did not fit the crime. Anyone honest should want her to have her job back - she would be an excellent watch dog!! Face it, she was honest, something not many individuals have under that dome and many of the dishonest seem to struggle with.
And Mean Old Man...I hope they make her president Judge! Sounds like your one of the dishonest. perhaps a job, a favorable ruling at one time...something...they are the only ones sticking up for the Juvie thugs.
I cannot understand how one could blame Judge Panella about this. The US Attorney's Office said it was handled properly. I think people need to put the Lokuta Issue on one side and the Conahan/Ciavarella Issue on another. Panella, as a member of the board handled himself properly and thats that.
What contributions? I do not see dirty NEPA names scattered around his report. See some familiar names that are actually decent people like Rep John Yudichak and Neil O'Donnell.
Panella has my vote. Met him at La Festa Italiana, nice man with a heart. Something a Judge needs.
Typically do not vote straight party and won't this time either. There is alot of questions left to be answered. I think I will be voting Hughes and Gartly though. I also like Panella and Mundy from the statewide races.
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