Former Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Conahan, awaiting sentencing for racketeering conspiracy in the kids-for-cash case, has withdrawn his bid to collect state pension benefits.Conahan, 59, had challenged a ruling by the State Employees' Retirement System, which cut off his $8,000-per-month pension in May 2009 and sought reimbursement of about $2,400 he received between his January 2009 arrest and the ruling.
Conahan withdrew that challenge in April, offering no reason for the withdrawal, according to Robert Gentzel, a spokesman for the system.
Conahan attorney Philip Gelso declined comment Thursday [6/2/11].
Conahan faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to accepting $2.8 million in bribes and kickbacks from the builder and co-owner of a for-profit juvenile detention center. Prosecutors say Conahan and a co-defendant, former county Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., conspired to close a county-owned center and used their influence to send juveniles to the for-profit center.
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Conahan Ends Bid to Collect Pension
Judges engaging in conspiracy and racketeering and accepting bribes and kickback? Nah! Not in America!
ReplyDeleteAnd if he hadn't withdrawn? Would there be a chance that he would have received the benefits?
ReplyDeleteSadly, he probably would have.
This case shines a light on another problem in the USA - idiotic pensions (and pay/benefits)for government workers. They're royalty and the rest of us are serfs who are paying the bill.
ReplyDelete