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       LUZERNE COUNTY CORRUPTION PROSECUTIONS

     As a service to the public, and in compliance with legal obligations, the United States Attorney’s Office is providing this web page as a means for members of the public who believe they have been victimized by alleged public corruption in Luzerne County to remain fully informed of the status of pending prosecutions.

     This web page will be updated as court events are scheduled in this matter. Sentencing in criminal cases does not take place at the time of entry of a guilty plea, but sometime later. After a guilty plea is entered by a defendant, a United States Probation Officer will be assigned to prepare a pre-sentence report for the defendant. A pre-sentence report includes a significant amount of information, including, but not limited to, details of the offense itself, and details about the defendant’s criminal history, family history, educational background, financial situation, etc. As part of a pre-sentence report, restitution and victim impact statements may be included.

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(Click on a name below to access information about that specific case)

Victim Rights:

Under the Victim and Witness Protection Act, the Justice for All Act, and the regulations promulgated under those Acts by the Attorney General of the United States, crime victims have the following rights:

(a) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.

(b) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.

(c) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.

(d) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.

(e) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.

(f) The right to full and timely restitution as provided for by law. The attorney for the Government is required to "fully advocate the rights of victims on the issue of restitution unless such advocacy would unduly prolong or complicate the sentencing proceeding," and the Court is authorized to order restitution by the defendant including, but not limited to, restitution for property loss, economic loss, personal injury, or death.

(g) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.

(h) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.

A crime victim can seek the advice of an attorney with respect to the foregoing rights.

Under federal law, a crime victim is someone who is directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of a federal criminal offense. In the case of a crime victim who is under 18 years of age, incompetent, incapacitated, or deceased, the legal guardians of the crime victim or the representatives of the crime victim’s estate, family members, or any other persons appointed as suitable by the court, may assume the crime victim’s rights under federal law.
Under federal law restitution in a criminal case is generally limited to the value of property lost by the victim and generally does not include other types of consequential damages.

If you believe that you were a victim of an offense being prosecuted as part of the Luzerne County corruption prosecutions, and if you want to learn more about your rights as a victim, please contact us in writing at the following address: United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Attention: Laurie Reiley, P.O. Box 11754, Harrisburg, PA 17108. Please include details that explain why you feel you are a victim in this case.

If you believe that you have information relating to criminal wrongdoing please contact the Corruption Task Force tip-line at 1-866-996-4320.