Pocono News Section

More Charges in Luzerne Co. Corruption Case

More Charges in Luzerne Co. Corruption Case - Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:20PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- It's 3-arrests and counting in the ongoing federal investigation into corruption at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Longtime Court Administrator William Sharkey is charged with embezzling some $70,000 from the county court system. He is the third high-ranking county official heading to prison.
The U. S. Attorney filed charges Tuesday against Sharkey, who s from West Hazleton. He has been the Court Administrator since 1997. Sharkey was in charge of court operations, and that included money.

According to investigators Sharkey was in control of illegal gambling money seized by state Liquor Control Enforcement. He was supposed to get a court forfeiture order and then put that money, some $70,000, into the county treasurer s account. Federal investigators say he kept the money.

His arrest has people talking. Carl Romanelli of Wilkes-Barre said, "It's disappointing it happened at all but it s nice to see the investigation is moving forward and bad apples."

This comes 8 days after Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan were charged with fraud for taking millions in kickbacks connected to a private juvenile center.

On Monday the I-Team learned that new President Judge Chester Muroski suspended county payments to Sharkey. Tuesday Muroski said that Sharkey is now immediately suspended without pay. Sharkey has been on medical leave since last August. But Muroski told Eyewitness News that Sharkey has been out and about but not at work.

Federal agents seized records from Sharkey s office last summer. Sharkey could not be reached for comment.

Eyewitness News is also told that the federal investigation continues and that more arrests are likely.