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Pocono News Section
Executive Director of Scranton Housing Authority Indicted
Executive Director of Scranton Housing Authority Indicted - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 7:06PM EST
Reported by: Eric Deabill & Joe Holden
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 @07:06pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - David Baker, the executive director of the Scranton Housing Authority, was indicted Wednesday afternoon by a grand jury in Harrisburg. Baker faces 16 different charges.
Federal prosecutors say Wednesday's indictment has been several years in the making. Among the charges he faces are theft of federal funds and wire fraud.
It has been more than three years since federal officials used a U-Haul truck to load boxes of evidence from the Housing Authority's Offices on Adams Avenue. At first, investigators remained quiet, but the indictment was part of the investigation.
"That's terrible. That's terrible. I live in Scranton Housing Authority property and have section eight housing through them," Christina Irving said.
According to prosecutors, Baker took federal money that was supposed to fund "low income" housing and knowingly misapplied it. In a news release, investigators say Baker knew the move was illegal but continued to do it anyway, even submitting false statements to the federal government.
When workers in Baker's office started to cooperate with the investigation, Baker even retaliated against them and took away their overtime.
Numerous calls to the Scranton Authority were not returned Wednesday afternoon, but reaction in the community came quickly.
"I can't believe that. I think they need some oversight," Charles Growles of Scranton said.
Baker could not be reached for comment. There is no word on whether or not Baker is still on the job because of the indictment. | | |
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