SCRANTON - Former Luzerne County official Bill Brace helped federal prosecutors with an investigation of county Clerk of Courts Robert F. Reilly, a government attorney told a federal judge at Brace's sentencing Wednesday.
Brace was sentenced to only 3 months in prison for accepting a$1500 suit from an unnamed contractor because he ratted out used car salesman and Big Ugly's investor Reilly in addition to former Commissioner Greg Skrepnak and former Jury Commissioner Jerry Bonner. Apparently there is no honor among thieves when your own ass is on the line. The feds are also questioning Reilly's involvement with LRW Solutions group that Controller Walter Griffith has stopped paying because of concerns about the company's contract with Luzerne County.
If that isn't enough Judge Munley dropped this bomb
Brace's criminal conduct went beyond the suit and his position in county government...
Munley, summarizing a confidential pre-sentence report, said Brace accepted $800 per month from another company over a two-year span after he led the firm's officials to believe he could secure them business with the City of Wilkes-Barre, his employer for 31 years before he joined Reilly's office in 2001.
More about that later.
It's a real shame that the Feds will not give out the info on who the bribe payers are. Why shouldn't the current officials know who they are dealing with?
ReplyDeleteIt apears that the only sin is in accepting a bribe, not in offering one. Looks to me that it is perfectly acceptable to put "offering bribes" on a company's business plan as how to attract new business and methods for business growth. Just bribe, that's the answer. Shame on the Feds for keeping this information secret.
ReplyDeleteI would guess the reason they aren't saying who the bribers are is because the bribers are still talking and there maybe other officials under investigation. If you release who is doing the bribing it may hamper any ongoing investigation. As Bonner proved, even with the feds all over the place, people are still asking and accepting payments.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe that he took almost 1,000 dollars for the sitting of Wilkes-Barre that meens there are so many other players in this game as well. I was jogging the other day and with my wondering eyes I see Mayor Leighton and Brace talking with each other like every thing is peaches and cream. Is Mayor Leighton running for Senate he will never get my vote now for Senate or for Mayor. We have to get rid of these dirty politicians.
ReplyDeleteIf Leighton gets elected, betcha Brace gets a job in his office. Conviction or not, I betcha.
ReplyDeleteLeighton flat out lied in the newspaper saying he hasnt talked to Brace if you believe that I got some swamp land to sell you. The man wants to be our Senator I think not.
ReplyDelete