Feds search PA Cyber headquarters, say school not “current target” of investigation

Tribune-Review (Pittsburgh Area) ^ | 13 July 2012 | By Bill Vidonic

[Vigilanteman]

Federal agents served a search warrant on Thursday at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School in Midland, the largest cyber school in the state with more than 11,000 students.

The Department of Justice would not say what agents with the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Education were seeking there or at least three other locations where warrants were served.

In a statement, the Justice Department said the Beaver County school, founded in 2000, “is not a current target of this investigation.”

Founder Nick Trombetta, 57, could not be reached for comment. On June 30, he stepped down as the school’s CEO, saying it was time to start a new chapter in his life.

In a statement, Trombetta’s replacement, PA Cyber CEO Michael J. Conti, said that “staff fully cooperated with (federal) agents and will continue to cooperate throughout their investigation.”

The school employs 650 people.

“We have told our staff to do their best to concentrate on fulfilling their professional obligations to our students, while making sure that they comply with any further requests from government agencies involved in this investigation,” Conti added.

Agents served a search warrant for financial records at the National Network of Digital Schools, said Joseph Askar, solicitor for the nonprofit company based in Beaver.

[Vigilanteman]

Not a current target of investigation, but fedzilla is swarming all over them with search warrants which they won't disclose the contents.

I'm betting this is a politically motivated warning signal to parents thinking of enrolling their children in cyber school.

Cyper schools in Pennsylvania have been growing big time and cutting into the enrollment numbers for the PSEA educrats income stream.

The timing is also highly suspect. What say the rest of you?

[GladesGuru]

What you said.

[twyn1]

Having home-schooled in PA, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find this was some sort of scare tactic.

Home-schooling is not encouraged or facilitated here, especially if you choose to home-school without using the recommended “accreditation” services(IMO, rather useless, overly rigid and much too expensive).

[SECURE AMERICA]

In a statement, the Justice Department said the Beaver County school, founded in 2000, “is not a current target of this investigation.”

So many idiots so little time..
If the school is not a target of an investigation on what basis was a warrant issued??

[Vigilanteman]

If the school is not a target of an investigation on what basis was a warrant issued??

Good question. At least with the TSA, we can chalk it up to theatrics.

That may be exactly what is at work here as I notice the number of ads for cyber school alternatives in the local fishwrap has been increasing lately.

Just wait for the back to school sales in a week or two when little Johnny and Susie start really voicing their opinions on back to school anxieties.

[PapaBear3625]

Not a current target of investigation, but fedzilla is swarming all over them with search warrants which they won't disclose the contents.

??? Whatever happened to

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[SaraJohnson]

Right. This learning technology is not a favorite with the union thugs and central control socialist brain washers.

It hinders the efforts to build the mindless political social herds globalist progressives need to bring down the Republic and to reinforce their tribal divisions and pecking orders. The computer might give them access to the constitution and other subservisive notions!