United States v. Ross Scarantino
Middle District of Pennsylvania Docket Number 3:CR-09-00166
Press Release links by date:
- 4/16/09: Federal officials announce the filing on charges against the superintendent of Pittston Area School District
- 5/20/09: Federal officials announce the filing of a criminal information and plea agreement in the case against Pittston Area School District Superintendent
Case Summary:
On May 20, 2009, Dr. Ross Scarantino was charged in a one-count criminal information with corrupt receipt of a reward in connection with official action, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, section 666. The information charges that Dr. Scarantino was the Superintendent of Schools for the Pittston Area School District and, as such, made recommendations, formal and informal, relating to service and equipment contracts entered into by the Pittston Area Board of Education.
The information charges that the Pittston Area Board of Education relied upon Dr. Scarantino’s recommendations and awarded contracts to contractors recommended by Dr. Scarantino.
The information further charges that in about February of 2008, in his capacity as the Superintendent of Schools for the Pittston Area School District, Dr. Scarantino corruptly accepted and agreed to accept cash in the amount of $5000 intending to be rewarded in connection with the awarding of contracts by the Pittston Area School District, involving a thing of value of more than $5,000. The information charges that, within a one year period from the date of the commission of the offense, the Pittston Area School District received benefits in excess of $10,000 under a federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance and other form of federal assistance.