TAYLOR BOROUGH PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO TAKING KICKBACKS

Thomas A. Marino, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that the Director of Public Works for Taylor Borough pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge William J. Nealon to taking kickbacks from businesses that performed work for the borough between 2001 and 2005.

U.S. Attorney Marino stated that Robert Sweet, age 63, of Taylor, Pennsylvania, admitted to using his position as Public Works Director to extort more than $10,000 in kickbacks from businesses he hired to do work for Taylor Borough. Sweet was charged in an Information filed by the United States Attorney in July 2007.

The plea agreement filed in the case requires Sweet to make full restitution in an amount to be determined by the court.

U.S. Attorney Marino noted that Sweet faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a three-year term of supervised release that would follow any prison sentence, and a $100 special assessment. Judge Nealon scheduled sentencing in the case for October 11, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Marino noted that the case was investigated by the FBI which has made the investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases a top priority of the bureau.

U.S. Attorney Marino noted that Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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