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SCRANTON — Former Wilkes-Barre towing contractor Leo A. Glodzik III was hit Tuesday with a superseding indictment, containing new allegations he issued a check to obtain cash from a closed account at the Wilkes-Barre City Federal Credit Union.
A separate indictment also filed Tuesday alleges he unlawfully possessed three firearms in August.
The superseding indictment against Glodzik, 43, and former credit union assistant manager Amanda Magda, 30, comes less than a week before the two are scheduled for trial in federal court on bank fraud offenses.
Glodzik, Magda, suspended city police officer Jason Anthony, 35, and former city police officer Tino Ninotti, 35, were initially indicted by a federal grand jury in August.
Glodzik, of Wilkes-Barre, is accused of giving Ninotti a vehicle identification number when Ninotti applied for a $25,086 loan to purchase a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup truck on March 23, 2012, according to the initial indictment.
The superseding indictment alleges Glodzik issued a bogus check drawn on a closed bank account payable to Ninotti to be used in connection with Ninotti’s efforts to secure $3,500.
Glodzik is further accused of attempting to persuade Ninotti to fabricate a false explanation to secure the cash, according to the superseding indictment.
Federal investigators allege the $25,086 loan was not used to purchase the 2011 Dodge pickup.
A new indictment levels a firearms charge against Glodzik, saying he was in possession of two rifles, a shotgun and ammunition on August 13 after having been convicted of a felony theft charge earlier in the year.
According to a Department of Justice news release, Glodzik if convicted faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment followed by a period of supervised release and also a $250,000 fine.
Magda was charged in the superseding indictment with witnessing Ninotti sign another name of a credit union member to secure the loan, similar to the charge filed in the initial indictment.
Anthony, of Wilkes-Barre, and Ninotti, of Hunlock Township, have filed separate plea agreements that calls for them to each plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge A. Richard Caputo on April 27.
Under the plea agreements, Anthony and Ninotti agreed to cooperate with federal investigators “concerning the unlawful activities of others.”
Anthony, who has been suspended without pay, was accused of signing a woman’s name on a loan document in securing a $7,159 loan on Jan. 15, 2014. Anthony signing the document was allegedly witnessed by Magda, who has since retired from the credit union.
Glodzik’s attorney, Joseph Sklarosky Sr., could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Attorney William Ruzzo, who along with M. Jason Asbell represents Magda, said he has not read the superseding indictment. Ruzzo said he will play it “by ear” with how he will handle the new offense as he claimed federal prosecutors are not “generous” with exchanging evidence.
“She hardly knows Mr. Glodzik. That is my understanding,” Ruzzo said.
Glodzik’s company, LAG Towing and Transport, had the exclusive towing contract with Wilkes-Barre for more than five years until last week when Mayor Thomas Leighton terminated the contract.
Glodzik is charged under the superseding indictment with two counts each of bank fraud and false statements on loan application, and one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and tampering with a witness. Magda is charged with bank fraud.