Housing Authority member says he took bribes to pay for trip

Hazleton Times // News

October 22

Housing Authority member says he took bribes to pay for trip

Luzerne County Housing Authority Member William Maguire pleaded guilty today to accepting $1,400 from a contractor to reimburse himself for a trip he took to Sanibel Island for Housing Authority Business.

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William Maguire enters the Federal Courthouse with Attorney Frank Nocito in Wilkes-Barre Thursday afternoon.

S.John Wilkin/The Times Leader

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Speaking at the hearing today, Assistant U.S. Attorney William Houser said Maguire went on the trip, which was approved by the authority, but was concerned about taking reimbursments because of the scandal involving the use of county debit cards that was going on at the time.

Houser said Maguire and fellow board member Gerald Bonner approached the contractor and asked him to pay for the trip. The men tied the request to their support of the contractor for past contracts awarded through the Housing Authority.

For complete story, see Friday's edition of The Times Leader.

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15 Reader Comments

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disgusted taxpayer said...

another one bites the dust! Throw them all in jail! THIEVES!

October 22, 2009 at 2:18 PM

North End Rob said...

BOO HOO...we were afraid to use our debit cards so we extorted money from a contractor. These guys are SCUM!

October 22, 2009 at 2:23 PM

Malcolm E. Hudgeon said...

All these anonymous CONtractors. They're the ones getting the LOOT.

October 22, 2009 at 2:29 PM

Darrell Smith said...

Gotta say .....these nit-wits really think everyone else beside s themselves is a complete stupid moron......lock em up and throw away the key.

October 22, 2009 at 2:30 PM

Joe Valley said...

OK, it is all so clear now. What is the fuss all about?

October 22, 2009 at 2:41 PM

I'm John Senchak, and I approve of this message said...

Another case of "quid-pro-quo" and this idiot is going to jail

October 22, 2009 at 3:10 PM

WOW! said...

All this crime yet not one person has spent one second or one day in jail??

October 22, 2009 at 3:17 PM

come on already said...

the funny thing is a housing authority trip to sanibel island i bet they learned lots there

October 22, 2009 at 3:19 PM

XXXL Prison Jumpsuit said...

I heard someone's just "puzzled" about the whole thing.

October 22, 2009 at 3:31 PM

John M said...

Ohhhh I see, based on this new information the charges should be dropped immediatley, NOT! Are ya kiddin me?

October 22, 2009 at 3:44 PM

Justice said...

A county, again, without names for corrupt contractors. What a strain these morons are putting on the non-juvenile detention facilities. Can it somehow be balanced out with the juvenile detention section, or has that avenue already been tried?

October 22, 2009 at 3:45 PM

tax pay'er said...

well now we all know Y its so hard tow get a low income houseing . ther all to biss'ey on trips and getting cash on the side

October 22, 2009 at 3:55 PM

Phil said...

If the trip was approved, why was he "afraid" to use the debit card? Perhaps because he knew it would be scrutinized and it would come out exactly WHAT he used the debit card to pay for. Hmmm...adult entertainment?

October 22, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Who's teaching our kids? said...

This anonymous is nothing we still have the Pizzella situation and don't know who the teacher is..you have someone teaching your kids that got the job with "connections"...do these people know someone that this is all hush, hush?

October 22, 2009 at 4:58 PM

the observer said...

we havent heard from the head of the housing authority,Mr.Fagula on these matters concerning his board members behavior.its time we the taxpayers are educated as to the role the housing authority plays in our community as to the spending of federal money. can we have a list of all the employees salaries and duties. the press is our only hope.

October 28, 2009 at 3:22 AM