Pocono News Section

Another Missing Money Probe in Luzerne County

Another Missing Money Probe in Luzerne County - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 5:27PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2008 @05:27pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- An investigation is underway into missing money at the Luzerne County Treasurer’s Office. It's the latest high profile theft investigation "under the dome".

Work goes on as usual at the office. From all outward appearances things are quite normal. But they are anything but normal these days. The Luzerne County District Attorney's Office is investigating missing money. Investigators are not saying how much is missing, but sources tell WBRE News it is more than $10,000.

Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll will not comment on the investigation, only to say it’s intense and ongoing. But sources close to the case tell the I-Team an arrest is imminent.

It would be the third high profile arrest of county employees in the past two years. Carl Salitis plead no contest last year in connection with the theft of $100,000 from the Recorder of Deeds Office and Robert Pritchard plead guilty to embezzling some $50,000 from the Recorder of Deeds Office.

Luzerne County Commissioner Chairperson Maryanne Petrilla took office in January and insists accountability is job one. "Well we are accountable. The people elected us to serve them. We should be accountable to them. We should answer their questions. If everything is on the up and up, we don't have to worry about the questions. They know what they get when they are elected in their commissions," she said.