Pocono News Section

Costanzo Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Case

Costanzo Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Case - Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 6:30PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Aug 13, 2009 @ 06:30pm EST
var images = new Array(); SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A man who stole more than $600,000 in taxpayer money was sentenced Thursday afternoon in Lackawanna County.

Charles Costanzo was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay more than $500,000 in restitution.

The 48-year-old was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering charges in April. Costanzo did not address the judge before learning his fate.

Costanzo's lawyer, Joshua Lock, says the case is not over yet.

"It's virtually certain that we will file an appeal," Lock said.

Lock brought up the judge scandal in Luzerne County, in arguing for a lighter sentence for Costanzo. He called the judges actions extreme and said Costanzo's wrong-doing "paled in comparison" to what Costanzo did.

"There was probably one in 1000 chance that it might resonate with him (the judge), to his benefit, but if I was representing you and there was one in 1000 chances, would you want me to take it or not?" Lock said after the sentencing.

In court, Lock also asked for a bail hearing for Costanzo. He says his client was locked-up unfairly earlier this month.

"It's somewhat unfair that he has to spend the last three or four weeks before he goes to jail in the Pike County Correctional Facility rather than home with his family," Lock said.

Costanzo was thrown back in jail after Mark Boriosi said he threatened him at an arbitration hearing in Philadelphia. Witnesses were ready to testify that never happened.

"I was present with Mr. Costanzo through those hearings and at least not in my presence did Mr. Costanzo threaten Mr. Boriosi in anyway," defense witness Nicholas Guiliano said.

Costanzo will most likely serve his federal sentence at a federal prison in Schuylkill County.