Federal Investigation of Schools

February 1, 2010

Oliveri sentenced to 12 months, 1 day

UPDATED: 11:35 a.m.

SCRANTON - Former Pittston Area school director Joseph Oliveri acknowledged Monday that he was wrong to accept $1,500 from a contractor who did business with the district, but he continued to insist he did not realize that at the time.

"I honestly didn't think I did anything wrong," Oliveri told U.S. District Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie, moments before Vanaskie sentenced Oliveri to 12 months and one day in prison and a $3,000 fine.

A woman who was among nine people who accompanied Oliveri to the hearing broke down in tears as the sentence was read.

Oliver, 52, of Hughestown, was charged last year with corrupt receipt of a reward for official action. Federal prosecutors said he accepted the money as a reward for helping the contractor, who has not been named, obtain contracts within the district.

Oliveri's attorney, Paul Walker, said Oliveri used the money to pay for a Christmas party held at a relative's restaurant for employees of the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technology Center.

Walker said Oliveri was looking for a way to pay for the event and asked another school director what he should do. That director recommended Oliveri approach several vendors who did business with the district to see if they would contribute. Walker said the first vendor

Oliver approached agree to pay the full tab.

"He actually had good motives," Walker told Vanaskie. "Mr. Oliveri did not realize the gravity of what he was doing."

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Houser confirmed Oliveri's version of how the case unfolded.

His actions were indicative of the "culture of corruption" that permeated throughout Luzerne County government, Houser said.

"It seemed like every day business to accept things you shouldn't accept as a public official," Houser said in court.

The sentence was within the guideline range, which called for a sentence of 12 to 18 months. In setting the sentence, Vanaskie acknowledged that Oliveri did not benefit directly from the payment, but said Oliveri should have known better.

"It's very perplexing to me. You asked for advice (from another school board member) and followed that advice. That advice should have sounded immediately wrong to you," Vanaskie said. "It's not only the law. Morals say its not right to accept money under those
circumstances if the person is doing business with the school district."

Speaking after the hearing, Walker said he did not fault Vanaskie for the sentence given that it was within the guideline range. He continued to defend Oliveri as a person who simply made a mistake.

"This guy is not the guy who exemplifies corruption in Luzerne County. He is a decent, hardworking guy. He was a little naive in his approach to his position" on the school board, Walker said.

For the complete story read Tuesday's Times Leader

ORIGINAL POST: 10:33 a.m.

SCRANTON - Former Pittston Area school director Joseph Oliveri was sentenced this morning to 12 months and one day on a corruption charge.

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