Pocono News Section

Luzerne County Court Administrator Pleads Guilty

Luzerne County Court Administrator Pleads Guilty - Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 10:54AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 @ 10:54am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Federal investigators say Luzerne County's Court Administrator abused his powers for a decade. They say William Sharkey stole thousands of dollars in confiscated gambling money. Today he appeared in federal court, weeks after a plea agreement was worked out.

Luzerne County Court Administrator William Sharkey pleaded guilty in federal court in Scranton this morning to one count of embezzlement.

Sharkey admitted he stole more than $70,000 in funds seized from illegal gambling operations in a 10-year period. His plea hearing took about 20 minutes.

Sharkey's plea is the third in less than a week in connection with the Luzerne County Courthouse corruption investigation.