Lackawanna probe may see indictments today

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.comLaw & Order Reporter

SCRANTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has scheduled a press conference for this afternoon to discuss developments in the corruption probe into Lackawanna County.

Heidi Havens, spokeswoman for the office, declined to reveal any other information regarding the announcement. Speculation is high that it could involve the filing of indictments against former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert Cordaro and/or current Commissioner A.J. Munchak.

In an interview last month, William Costopoulos, attorney for Cordaro, said he expected Cordaro would be indicted within a few weeks.

Costopoulos declined to say what charges might be filed, but said Cordaro has vowed to fight the allegations.

Contacted Monday, Costopoulos declined to comment until the conclusion of the press conference, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the federal courthouse located at 235 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.

Munchak, the Republican minority commissioner, has previously acknowledged he spoke to federal agents several times. His attorney, Christopher Powell, previously said questions focused on “vendors and cash.”

Munchak has denied any wrongdoing.

Powell said Monday he has not been advised by prosecutors if charges will be filed against Munchak.

The Lackawanna County probe follows a sweeping probe into Luzerne County that resulted in the arrests of 23 people, including a county commissioner and three judges.

Speculation that Cordaro and Munchak might face charges has been rampant for months. The FBI issued subpoenas to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and the Lackawanna County Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority last summer seeking documents related to the awarding of contracts.

The airport subpoena, filed in July, sought documents dating from Jan. 1, 2004 through Jan. 31, 2008, related to the design and construction of a $42 million addition to the airport terminal that was completed in 2006.

In November a second subpoena was issued seeking information on contractors who worked on the project who were contacted about helping to pay for a nearly $180,000 party that was held to celebrate the opening of the new terminal.

Cordaro, who lost his bid for re-election in 2007, and Munchak were the majority commissioners for Lackawanna County during the time period under investigation. They sat on the airport board with the three commissioners from Luzerne County. Cordaro served as chairman of the airport board in 2004 and 2006 and as vice chairman in 2005 and 2007.

Federal agents also issued a subpoena in July seeking contract records from the stadium authority, which oversees operations at PNC Field, home to the New York Yankees’ Triple-A baseball franchise.

Cordaro acted as the sole negotiator for the contract that brought the Yankees franchise to the stadium after the Philadelphia Phillies opted to move their Triple-A team to Lehigh Valley

Luzerne and Lackawanna counties own and operate the stadium, but only Lackawanna County commissioners appoint board members to the stadium authority.

Neither Munchak nor Cordaro returned a phone message seeking comment.

In an interview in July, Munchak told The Associated Press that a grand jury appeared to be looking into contracts related to the construction of a new field and clubhouse at PNC Field.

Terrie Morgan-Besecker, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 570-829-7179.