United States of America v. Robert J. Powell

Middle District of Pennsylvania Docket Number 3:CR-09-00189

The following three court documents are in Adobe PDF format:

• Criminal Information
  
  
• U.S. v. Robert J. Powell Plea Agreement
  
  
• Offense Conduct Statement
         

Press release links by date:

• 6/9/09: Federal officials announce the filing of a Criminal Information and Plea Agreement against a Luzerne County attorney accused of aiding Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan avoid detection in Tax and Honest Services Tax Scheme    
  
  
• 6/11/09: Public statement regarding statement of offense conduct purported to have been filed by the United States in the case of United States vs. Robert Powell    
  
  
• 7/1/09: Federal officials announce the guilty plea of a Luzerne County attorney accused of aiding Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan avoid detection in Tax and Honest Services Fraud Scheme
  
  
• 11/4/11: Luzerne County attorney who helped former Judges Ciavarella and Conahan avoid detection in Tax and Honest Services Fraud scheme sentenced to 18 months in prison

Case Outcome:

Robert J. Powell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a total of $60,000 in fines. Powell must surrender on November 30, 2011 to commence service of his sentence.

Case Summary:

On June 9, 2009, Attorney Robert J. Powell was charged in a two-count criminal information. In count 1, Powell is charged with misprision of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 4. In count 2, he is charged with being an accessory after the fact, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 3.

The information alleges that, between in or about January, 2003, and on or about May 1, 2008, Robert J. Powell, having knowledge of the actual commission of the felony offense of wire fraud, concealed the same by: (1) cooperating in the creation of false records designed to hide, disguise and mis-characterize income received by Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella; and (2) transferring tens of thousands of dollars in cash to Michael Conahan with the intent that the cash not be traceable as income. The information alleges that Mr. Powell did not as soon as possible make the offense known to a judge or other person in civil or military authority under the United States.

The information also charges that, between in or about January, 2003, and on or about April 15, 2007, Robert J. Powell, knowing that the offense of conspiracy to file false tax returns was being committed, did assist the offenders, Michael T. Conahan and Mark A. Ciavarella, in order to hinder and prevent their apprehension, trial and punishment.