Pocono News Section

Head Of Scranton Housing Authority Indicted

Head Of Scranton Housing Authority Indicted - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:35PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 @11:35pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- It's being said by the US Attorney's Office that David Baker, executive director of the Scranton Housing Authority, made decisions that violated federal laws, regulations and statutes by allegedly mishandling and misappropriating money and placing people in federal housing when they had no business being there.

The US Attorney's Office says Baker would turn up the heat on anyone who cooperated with the federal investigation. So much so that he reportedly demoted and transferred some workers at the authority. His actions allegedly sent an audit team running from the housing authority because of his supposed actions.

WBRE News paid a visit to Baker's East Mountain home in Scranton. No one answered the door. The 60-year-old is accused of steering money away from the agency that provides a roof over the heads of the nation's poorest. Reaction on Scranton streets was anything but sympathetic for Baker. One man told us "it was messed up."

A few years back, federal agents swarmed the housing authority administration building. They seized enough records to require a U-Haul truck. Their work shows Baker engaged in a pattern of intimidation, retaliation, concealment, misrepresentation and non-compliance in his management of federal funds.

Baker allegedly covered his tracks by threatening retaliation against office workers and auditors who were cooperating with the investigation, according to the indictment. It's said he funneled money away from its intended purpose and instead, directed it to a place named Park Gardens development.

Baker could lose his job if convicted on the charges.