Pocono News Section

Bellas Resigns from Redevelopment Authority

Bellas Resigns from Redevelopment Authority - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 5:45PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 @ 05:45pm EDT
WEST PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY -- The director of the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority has resigned.

Allen Bellas, who will plead guilty to federal corruption charges, sent a letter to the authority chairman saying he would step down from his position.

Bellas admits to taking a $2,000 bribe to help a local, yet unidentified contractor, get financing for a project with a local township.

Bellas, who's also President of the Wyoming Valley West School Board, is not charged in connection with the school district, although we know that the FBI seized records from the district this past summer.

Bellas is the 17th local official caught up in the ongoing federal probe.