Federal Investigation of Schools

September 15, 2009

W-B School Director Frank Pizzella indicted by grand jury

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
Law & Order Reporter
Terrie Morgan-Besecker on Facebook   |   @TLTerrieMorgan on Twitter

 

Posted 4:30 p.m.

 SCRANTON - A  federal grand jury has issued an indictment against Wilkes-Barre Area School Director Frank Pizzella – the third Wilkes-Barre board member to be charged since April.

 Pizzella, who has served on the board since December 2007, is charged with passing a $5,000 bribe onto a school board member who helped a person obtain a teaching job.

According to the indictment, in 2004 a person, identified only an unindicted co-conspirator, sought a job as a teacher within the district, but was not successful. Pizzella knew the person and indicated he could get that person a job if the person paid $5,000 to the other board member, who is not identified in the indictment.

The person and another person, listed as a second unindicted co-conspirator, then obtained a loan from a third person so that they could pay the money to the school board member. The money was paid to Pizzella, who then passed it on to the board member.

 The indictment comes on the heels of a criminal complaints filed against board members Brian Dunn and James Height, both of whom are also accused of using their positions to influence the awarding of contracts.

 Dunn was charged on April  21. A preliminary hearing that was scheduled for Thursday to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to take that case to trial has been postponed until Nov. 17.

 Height was charged on May 18. He pleaded guilty on May 29 as part of a negotiated plea deal and is awaiting sentencing.

 Pizzella, of Plains Township, has held a number of public positions. He previously served as a Plains Township commissioner and was one tipstaff to former judge Ann Lokuta.

 For the complete story read Wednesday’s Times Leader.

 

 

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