Posted on 10/30/2016 11:59:55 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Two former employees of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission "stole" more than $8,000 by improperly inflating their work hours, the state Attorney General's Office said.
Criminal charges filed today against Sharie Anne Sacco, 56, and Stephen Michael Dombek, 51, are the result of separate investigations by the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
The pair also are accused of using state vehicles for their personal use.
The AG's Office began its investigations after receiving a referral from the Office of Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
According to criminal complaints filed in the case:
• Sacco, of Lehigh County, worked for the turnpike commission as a construction manager and was responsible for overseeing and inspecting projects on the Turnpike's Northeastern Extension. A 32-year employee of the commission, Sacco worked out of the Quakertown Maintenance Facility in Bucks County.
Sacco allegedly received $5,918 which she was not entitled to by falsifying work hours submitted to a time management system that turnpike commission employees use to record their work time. That alleged falsification occurred during 39 days when she was under surveillance last year.
Sacco is also accused of submitting for meal payments to which she was not entitled and using a turnpike commission vehicle for her personal use on several occasions while she was under surveillance, investigators said.
She faces two counts each of tampering with public records or information and tampering with record or identification, as well as one count each of conflict of interest, theft by deception and theft.
Sacco appeared today for a preliminary arraignment. Bail was set at $20,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 24.
• Dombek, of Luzerne County, also worked as a construction manager for the commission, and was responsible for overseeing and inspecting construction projects on the Northeastern Extension. An eight-year employee of the turnpike commission, Dombek worked out of two locations, one in Luzerne County and the other in Lehigh County.
Investigators say Dombek received $2,196 which he was not entitled to by falsifying work hours. He was under surveillance on 17 days last year, during which investigators determined that Dombek falsely recorded the number of times he reported to work, and also reported working much later than he actually did.
Dombek also is accused of submitting for meal payments to which he was not entitled and using a turnpike commission vehicle for his personal use on several occasions while he was under surveillance.
He faces two counts each of tampering with public records or information and tampering with record or identification, as well as one count each of conflict of interest, theft by deception and theft.
Dombek appeared today for a preliminary arraignment. Bail was set at $20,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 23.
Sacco and Dombek will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Barney Anderson of the AG's Criminal Prosecutions Section.
"I hope these arrests serve as a stern reminder that we have no tolerance for anyone who steals from the public," Attorney General Kathleen Kane said. "We especially will prosecute any public employee picking the pockets of the people."
Turnpike Commission spokesman Carl DeFebo said the agency could not comment on the charges or personnel issues, but was able to confirm that records show Sacco was terminated in November and Dombek was terminated in December. Both were earning $63,107 per year.
“I know what you did last summer . . .”
Were they lawyers?
Construction managers.
They cut Vanzetti out of the action, so he ratted them out.
Just the tip of the iceberg.
I wish this would happen in the Pennsylvania Dept of Corrections, with all the nepotism and corruption of the family run DOC!!
I wonder if they will try the Clinton/Comey defense?
Those amounts were just for the few days they were observed. Now think years and years...
Were they one of six people hanging around looking at the one person working?
They fabricated hours to be overpaid? Outrageous! Who do they think are? Lawyers and military contractors?
Irony is heavy here.
” Attorney General Kathleen Kane said. “We especially will prosecute any public employee picking the pockets of the people.”
https://www.google.com/search?q=Attorney+General+Kathleen+Kane&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
reminds me of the old lawyer joke- a lawyer won his case and is being awarded attorney’s fees-judge asks him how many hours and what his hourly rate is-he tells the judge some very high hourly rate-the judge says young man you don’t have enough experience to earn such a high rate- the lawyers assistant jumps up and says yes your honor he hasn’t been practicing law that long but his total billable hours show he has much more experience bada bing...
Government employees cheating?
I’m shocked...........................
I bet they also get to ride free on Pennsylvania toll roads too just like too many California gov’t workers do.
That's what I was thinking. That was just for when they were under surveillance! The Turnpike Authority should sue their asses.
I know. This was obviously before she was brought up on criminal charges for basically using her office to wage a vendetta against somebody else.
Just a note, a 32 year employee, construction manager and her salary was only $63,000?? I would think the hands would have been making at least that much, the benefits must have been wonderful.
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