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By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
Luzerne County Reporter
Jennifer Learn-Andes on Facebook   |   @TLJenLearnAndes on Twitter

As his allies fall like dominoes, Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak said he fully expects to be called to meet with federal investigators as part of the ongoing county corruption probe.

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Commissioners Greg Skrepenak, right front, with Maryanne Petrilla and Steve Urban seated next to him, listen to public comment ata county commissioners meeting Friday.

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“I’m not naíve enough to believe that something is not going to come my way in terms of being talked to and such,” Skrepenak said after Friday’s commissioner work session.

“Everyone around me has already been talked to, so I do expect it to happen sometime, but as of right now nothing is going on,” Skrepenak said.

Skrepenak said he has retained Wilkes-Barre attorney Peter Moses and expects inquiries from federal agents will be funneled through him.

“As of right now, we’re in a state of limbo. I’m wondering what move is next,” Skrepenak said.

He still maintains that he knows of nothing that he did that could result in charges against him.

“In my mind I do not believe I did anything wrong,” Skrepenak said.

He said he has no plans to resign and did not clean out his office – two widespread rumors circulating through the county this week. Skrepenak said he’s aware of all the chatter circulating about him, including talk that he will soon be indicted.

“The rumors are incredible,” Skrepenak said.

He said he will not challenge investigators if they request information from him.

“When and if the time comes, I will certainly cooperate and accept my responsibility,” he said.

He said he understands why federal officials would want to investigate him, in light of the findings involving people around him.

“I know what it looks like. I would look at me if I were in their shoes. They’re just doing their job,” he said.

Skrepenak said he was “in shock” about questionable details that have surfaced about his allies.

“I had no idea what was going on,” he said. “You trust the people that work for you.”

One of his friends, Pittston businessman Barton Weidlich, was charged with making veiled threats against a witness he suspected was wearing a concealed recording device. Weidlich, who has done contracting work in county government and rented billboards to the county, has a preliminary hearing next month.

Another friend, former county deputy chief clerk Bill Brace, recently agreed to plead guilty to one count of corrupt receipt of a reward for official action for receiving a tailored suit worth $1,500 in exchange for supporting a contract in 2007 or 2008.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Brace traveled to New York City, where the contractor had Brace fitted for the suit. Brace then helped the contractor in obtaining a contract with the county valued at more than $5,000. The charges did not identify the contractor.

Skrepenak said he did not know Brace received a suit and has no idea what contract is allegedly involved in the charges against Brace. Skrepenak said he never received a tailored suit paid by someone else.

Another Skrepenak ally, former county emergency management municipal coordinator William Maguire, has pleaded guilty to accepting $1,400 from a contractor in connection with supporting a contract on the Housing Authority, where he was a board member.

Skrepenak said he supported Maguire’s hiring because he had strong credentials and knew a lot about crime reduction. He said Maguire introduced Skrepenak and other county officials to New York City Police Department representatives, current and retired.

Doug Richards, who was also an ally of Skrepenak’s, was fired Wednesday for failing to answer county Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla’s questions about Continental Consultants Group, a New York company that also is under investigation for its business dealings with the county.

Skrepenak said he knew nothing about Continental and supports Richards’ termination in light of details that have been exposed in the media. Richards has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing.

“I’m not going to say I didn’t hire these guys or that I wasn’t associated with them. I did, and I have to be accountable,” Skrepenak said. “The more that gets uncovered, the more I find out myself. It’s just unbelievable.”

Skrepenak said he relied heavily on department heads and managers to make sure policies and laws were followed, and he finds it “unsettling” that people he knew well are getting implicated.

“I didn’t realize that this stuff was going on and it’s very disappointing to see, but I’m not pointing fingers at anybody,” he said.

Two other friends – Sam Guesto and Greg Hunsinger – have also stopped working for the county. They have not been publicly linked to the probe.

Guesto was county chief clerk/manager from 2004 through February 2008 and then took a job in the county court system. He was furloughed from that job in February. Hunsinger was purchasing director from 2006 until he resigned in August to pursue other work opportunities.

Skrepenak said the probe has “been like a cloud over my head.”

His father, also named Greg, and an employee of his father’s Wilkes-Barre bar/restaurant – Big Ugly’s – also testified before a grand jury.