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SCRANTON - Luzerne County judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan have agreed to plead guilty in connection to concealing $2.6 million from January 2003 to April 2007, and have agreed to serve 87 months - 7.25 years - in federal prison, Martin Carlson, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, said.

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• Ciavarella sentenced to 28 years in prison

On the web

• Ciavarella plea agreement (PDF, pages 1 - 18)
• Ciavarella plea agreement (PDF, pages 19 - 22)
• Conahan plea agreement (PDF)

Ciavarella and Conahan also agreed to resign as judges within 10 days of federal court approval of their plea agreements, Carlson said during a Monday afternoon news conference.

Carlson called the acts, "A scheme to defraud the citizens of Luzerne County and the people of Pennsylvania."

Carlson said the investigation, which is on-going, alleged Ciavarella and Conahan engaged in fraud by taking millions of dollars in construction, operation and expansion of the juvenile detention center in Pittston Township and juvenile facilities elsewhere.

Carlson further alleged Ciavarella and Conahan pressured the Luzerne County Juvenile Probation Department and juvenile probation officers to detains juveniles at the detention center, despite recommendations by juvenile probation officers that detention was not warranted.

Carlson claimed Ciavarella and Conahan had a financial interest in the juvenile detention facility, and failed to disclose their financial interests as required for elected officials.

Luzerne County Judge Chester Muroski is acting as president judge until the full bench of judges elect a president judge. That election has not been scheduled.

Muroski has imposed a hiring, transfer and wage freeze for all court personnel, and hopes the lawsuit filed by Ciavarella against Luzerne County commissioners in connection to the 2009 budget is terminated.

"We will reevaluate the positions that have been taken as for personnel, we will do everything we can do come into a conformity with a uniform budget and I believe that given an opportunity with county commissioners, we will be able to do this," Muroski said. "As quickly as possible, we will terminate the lawsuit."

"This is a day I have waited for with great patience," Ann Lokuta, embattled Luzerne County judge, said. "If I had to sacrifice my judicial career to shed light on the corruption under the courthouse dome, that is what I had to do."

The state Court of Judicial Discipline removed Lokuta from the bench in December and prohibited her from ever holding another judicial office. The court had previously found Lokuta violated the canons of judicial conduct through her behavior on the bench.