Free Republic

Former Lackawanna County commissioners Robert C. Cordaro and A.J. Munchak were sentenced this afternoon to prison for accepting bribes and kickbacks while running the county. Mr. Cordaro will serve 11 years in prison while Mr. Munchak will serve seven. Mr. Munchak must report to U.S. Marshals by 2 p.m. on April 3 to begin serving his sentence. The sentencing drew more than 120 people, including former colleagues, family, friends - and others just interested in the proceeding's outcome. Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo has ruled that the sentencing guidelines for Mr. Cordaro is 188 to 235 months. Earlier,...

A federal grand jury in Scranton indicted Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak and former Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro this morning on public corruption charges. Both are indicted on charges of racketeering and tax evasion. Mr. Cordaro faces a maximum of 364 years and a $7.7 million fine if convicted. Mr. Munchak faces 193 years and a $3.25 million fine. (Click here to read the indictment) Mr. Munchak said he would not resign. “The charges filed against me today are without merit and are based on untrue allegations. I plan to vigorously defend myself against these allegations and I am confident...

The concourse is pretty quiet most days at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, but on a spring night in 2006 about 900 people were milling about at a black-tie affair dining on hors d'oeuvres as they took in a $30,000 laser light and music show. Few knew the lavish, invitation-only party cost $176,000, and even if they did, they probably never would have guessed that the tab was picked up, for the most part, by companies that received public contracts for the $80 million airport renovation. The construction contracts and the big party - a night that cost more than an...

FBI agents have questioned actor Paul Sorvino about his dealings with Robert C. Cordaro, the former Lackawanna County commissioner who steered $500,000 from the county into the production of "The Trouble with Cali," a movie Mr. Sorvino shot in Scranton three years ago but hasn't finished. Mr. Sorvino, who said Monday post-production editing is continuing on the film, said the agents wanted to know whether Mr. Cordaro personally benefited from his relationship with Mr. Sorvino. It is a federal crime for elected officials to enrich themselves while in office. Mr. Sorvino, in a telephone interview, was initially reluctant to discuss...

The U.S. attorney's office has issued a grand jury subpoena seeking records from the county authority that oversees PNC Field. It is the latest revelation of a widening federal probe into how Lackawanna County was governed under the previous administration of Commissioner A.J. Munchak and former Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro. The Lackawanna County Multipurpose Stadium Authority received a subpoena from the U.S. attorney's office late last week for copies of all approved contracts between 2004 and 2008, authority solicitor Frank Tunis confirmed. Mr. Tunis and airport officials have declined to release copies of the subpoenas, but The Times-Tribune was able...