Dirty Judge Pleads Guilty In Kids-For-Cash Case

Friends of Ours ^ | 04/29/10 | Friends of Ours

[AtlasStalled]

Michael T. Conahan, a Luzerne County, PA Common Pleas Judge whom federal prosecutors charged last September with sending supposedly delinquent kids to a privately-run juvie hall in exchange for cash from its builder and former owner, has agreed to plead guilty to a racketeering charge as reported by Hank Grezlak and Leo Strupczewski for The Legal Intelligencer. Conahan's co-defendant and fellow Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. continues to maintain his own innocence. In any event, "news of the plea deal is likely to cause a great deal of unease among some in Northeastern Pennsylvania, sources told The Legal Intelligencer, because the indication is that Conahan is cooperating with authorities":

For the past few months there has been increased talk and speculation from knowledgeable sources that investigators may be looking at other judges and other branches of government. Some of those same sources echoed that sentiment Thursday, saying that if Conahan is talking, they wouldn't be surprised if the investigation touches other government officials.

Conahan had a "longtime association with reputed organized crime figures in Northeast Pennsylvania" as reported by William Ecenbarger for The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Federal court testimony this year said he and William "Big Billy" D'Elia met regularly at a favorite booth in a local restaurant. D'Elia, reputed leader of one of the nation's oldest organized crime families, is serving nine years in federal prison on money-laundering and witness-tampering charges. "Politicians and organized crime have been married up here for a long time," said William Kashatus, a local historian who has written five books about the anthracite region. "Conahan's association with D'Elia was well known, and it only added to the mystique that made people afraid of him."

[freedomfiter2]

“Politicians and organized crime have been married up here for a long time,”

Don’t leave out the judges. PA is a failed state. That’s why I left.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I’d like to see this turd do serious time. Throwing kids in prison for money is wicked, twisted stuff. It’s akin to rape.

[Dasaji]

I watched a program where some of these kids and their families were interviewed by some kind of “board” - what these judges/system did to them is BEYOND sick and deplorable.

[Dasaji]

Throwing kids in prison for money is wicked, twisted stuff

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Look up how the bond business works with prisoners...this is Big Business.

[FormerACLUmember]

Name that Party!

I noted a total a total blackout on the identity of the corrupt democrat party machine in PA, back when this was a story.

[grey_whiskers]

IIRC, extra-judicial conduct is not covered by absolute immunity.

Cheers!

[mainsail that]

Life with no parole—in the general population, no special protection.

God knows how many young lives they ruined for financial gain

[sunbird]

I was just thinking that very thing.