Hanover Area member charged

HANOVER TWP. – The Hanover Area School District on Wednesday became the latest district pulled into the Luzerne County corruption probe as federal prosecutors charged board member Anthony Spinozza with accepting a bribe in exchange for influencing the awarding of a contract.

Spinozza, 59, of Hanover Township, has agreed to plead guilty to accepting at least $5,000 from a contractor, according to a complaint and plea agreement filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Spinozza is the 18th person and sixth area school official to be charged as part of the ongoing corruption probe. Each of the school officials is accused of accepting money or assisting in the passing of bribes to contractors who were awarded contracts.

As with charges brought against the others, the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not identify the contractor from whom Spinozza accepted the money.

Spinozza is scheduled to enter his guilty plea to one count of corrupt receipt of a reward for official action next Monday. The hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik at the federal courthouse in Scranton.

Federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of 12 to 18 months, but Spinozza could be sentenced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine – the maximum penalty for the offense.

Spinozza’s attorneys, Frank Nocito and Philip Gelso, declined to comment on the charges.

Spinozza has served on the board since 1999. His plea agreement called for him to resign within 10 days, but he submitted his resignation on Wednesday, board President Anthony Gagliardi said.

“It’s upsetting this happened in our own district,” Gagliardi said. “I’m glad he resigned early. It makes it tough when you have people missing. You can’t get things done.”

Gagliardi and board member John Mahle each said they had “no idea” which contract is at issue.

The complaint filed by prosecutors says Spinozza accepted the bribe between May and October 2008, but it does not indicate when the contract was awarded.

“Tony always seemed like a gentleman. I’m very surprised to hear the news,” said former school board member Dave Shipula, who served on the board from 1985 to 2007.

Hanover Area Superintendent Anthony Podczasy issued a prepared statement Wednesday stating that the district had not been contacted by any federal agency, nor had any agency requested records, regarding the actions that led to Spinozza’s arrest.

Podczasy said the district would cooperate fully should it be contacted by law enforcement.

“The Hanover Area School District’s mission of excellence in education must be pursued with commitment, integrity and consistency and the school board, administration and faculty are committed to that mission without reservation,” the statement said.

The charges against Spinozza come less than two weeks before the general election that features five candidates vying for four seats. Two newcomers, Joseph Steininger and Frank Ciavarella, are battling three incumbents – Evelyn Larson Evans, Lorraine Heydt and David Evans.

Ciavarella and Steininger each said they believe Spinozza’s arrest could impact the election.

“When you have people in office so long, it gets stagnant. They feel they can do what they want,” said Ciavarella, who is on the Democratic ballot. “I hope this opens people’s eyes and they say we need new ideas and new people on the board.”

Steininger, who is on the Republican ballot, said he thinks Spinozza’s arrest will make people more conscientious in who they choose.

“It’s important we elect people we can trust,” Steininger said. “It’s a sad day for the Hanover Area School Board. There are a lot of good people on the board striving to do the right thing. Something like this gives them a black eye.”

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Federal Investigation of Schools

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