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Former Scranton Mayor Sentenced To Seven Years’ Imprisonment On Public Corruption Charges
justice.gov ^ | October 2, 2020 | U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Pennsylvania

Posted on 10/04/2020 2:04:41 PM PDT by ransomnote

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the former mayor for the City of Scranton, William L. Courtright, age 63, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, on public corruption charges. 

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Courtright previously pleaded guilty on July 2, 2020, to charges involving criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion in July 2019.  Courtright had been the subject of a multi-year year undercover investigation headed by the FBI.  The undercover investigation captured the former mayor accepting cash payments from vendors doing business with the city.   

In addition to the prison term, Judge Mannion also ordered Courtright to pay a $25,000 fine, and be supervised by a probation officer for three years following his release from prison.

“In this County, in this Commonwealth, in this Country – our elected officials work for us,” said U.S. Attorney Freed.  “Not the other way around.  Using public office for personal financial gain is a crime, plain and simple. We are pleased with Judge Mannion’s sentence.  Elected officials should remain on notice that we will continue to work together with our state and local partners to investigate and prosecute public corruption cases at all levels.  There is no such thing as a little bit of corruption.  Corruption, not matter the scope is insidious.  I want to commend the painstaking work of our partners at the FBI who have never wavered in their commitment to the citizens of this district.  We are also grateful for the valuable assistance of IRS-Criminal Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police.  We will not rest in the fight against corruption.”

“Instead of working honestly on behalf of his constituents, William Courtright traded on his office, embracing a corrupt pay-to-play culture,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “With every bribe pocketed and favor accepted, he sold out the city of Scranton a little more. The damage he’s done to the public trust is profound and for that he must be held accountable. Cases like this only fuel the FBI's commitment to tackling public corruption.”

In addition to the prison term, Judge Mannion also ordered Courtright to pay a $25,000 fine, and be supervised by a probation officer for three years following his release from prison.

The FBI was assisted during the investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Consiglio and Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.

 

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Topic(s): 
Public Corruption
Component(s): 


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: davidfreed; davidjfreed; michaeldriscoll; michaeljdriscoll; pennsylvania; philadelphia; scranton; williamcourtright; williamlcourtright
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1 posted on 10/04/2020 2:04:41 PM PDT by ransomnote
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To: ransomnote

Scranton....Scranton....where has that come up before?


2 posted on 10/04/2020 2:05:13 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: ransomnote

7 years in prison!

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

He needs to read “How to be someone’s Boyfriend”.


3 posted on 10/04/2020 2:14:38 PM PDT by Eddie01
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To: ransomnote

When will some enterprising US Atty go after Biden & family? If they got this guy seven years +fine, they could send the Bidens away ‘til the sun goes nova.


4 posted on 10/04/2020 2:15:10 PM PDT by LIConFem (I will no longer accept the things I cannot change. it's time to change the things I cannot acceptI)
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To: LIConFem

it’s long been the policy of the FBI to remain neutral in political matters..... but of course, the Obama administration shot that policy all to hell, so, it would behoove the AG to initiate some federal ‘inquiries’..... but that’s a whole nother can o’worms; any you can imagine where it’s going to end up. The Bidens, the Clintons, even the Kennedys, Cuomos, and Romneys.......


5 posted on 10/04/2020 2:27:14 PM PDT by Segovia
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To: ransomnote
I didn't see a party affiliation listed. Means he's a Democrat. Figures.
6 posted on 10/04/2020 2:28:50 PM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
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To: dfwgator

“Scranton...” — yes, it does have vaguely familiar ring to it, doesn’t it. But I can’t put my finger on it.


7 posted on 10/04/2020 2:29:30 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom ("And oft conducted by historic truth, We tread the long extent of backward timef)
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To: ransomnote; dfwgator

Another great one, ransomnote.

I’ll take JoeJoe for all in, ‘gator.


8 posted on 10/04/2020 2:33:01 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Scranton values are Biden values.

Biden values are Scranton values.


9 posted on 10/04/2020 2:36:06 PM PDT by campaignPete R-CT (Committee to Re-Elect the President ( CREEP ))
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To: Segovia

If there were truly justice in this land Hillary Clinton would be in Leavenworth.


10 posted on 10/04/2020 2:36:09 PM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

It’s the ... ya know... the thing...


11 posted on 10/04/2020 2:36:56 PM PDT by jmacusa (If we're all equal how is diversity our strength?)
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To: dfwgator

Has the favorite son of Scranton weighed in on this extended stay at the graybar manor?

<>If Joe had a cousin, was he ever the mayor Scranton?


12 posted on 10/04/2020 2:39:23 PM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: fatima; Fresh Wind; st.eqed; xsmommy; House Atreides; Nowhere Man; PaulZe; brityank; Physicist; ...

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

13 posted on 10/04/2020 2:53:25 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: fatima; Fresh Wind; st.eqed; xsmommy; House Atreides; Nowhere Man; PaulZe; brityank; Physicist; ...

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

14 posted on 10/04/2020 2:53:28 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: fatima; Fresh Wind; st.eqed; xsmommy; House Atreides; Nowhere Man; PaulZe; brityank; Physicist; ...

Pennsylvania Ping!

Please ping me with articles of interest.

FReepmail me to be added to the list.

15 posted on 10/04/2020 2:53:31 PM PDT by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: dfwgator

“The Office”....?


16 posted on 10/04/2020 2:54:25 PM PDT by airborne (I don't always scream at the TV but when I do it's hockey season!)
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To: airborne

Thoae Scranton people are ALL alike..


17 posted on 10/04/2020 3:04:13 PM PDT by CMailBag
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To: dfwgator

Denzel has been there ...

18 posted on 10/04/2020 3:15:00 PM PDT by stinkerpot65 (Global warming is a Marxist lie.)
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To: ransomnote

Had to have been endorsed (and mentored?) by Joe Biden.


19 posted on 10/04/2020 3:45:48 PM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
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To: dfwgator

I think a man by the name of Corn Pop dug coal there.


20 posted on 10/04/2020 4:13:04 PM PDT by EEGator
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