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Background

The FBI has asked those with information on possible instances of job selling in public schools to contact the Scranton office at 570-344-2404

The agency issued a statement asking those with information to contact Special Agent Richard Southerton or Special Agent Joseph Noone. They are looking for teachers, prospective teachers, employees or prospective employees who were required to provide money or other things of value in connection with being hired in any public school in Northeast Pennsylvania, as well as those who believe they were denied employment for refusing to provide such payment, or anyone in the public who has knowledge of such deals.

The Scranton Resident Agency office covers the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming.

Federal Investigation of Schools

Latest Headlines

February 5, 2010

Pizzella guilty of corruption

SCRANTON – Former Wilkes-Barre Area school director Frank Pizzella Jr. could have challenged a corruption charge based on the statute of limitations, but his attorney said he decided to plead guilty so he could put the matter behind him.

February 3, 2010

W-B Area head signs plea deal

WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes-Barre Area School Board President Frank Pizzella Jr., charged with passing a bribe onto another school board member, has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Superintendent Jeff Namey confirmed Tuesday.

February 2, 2010

W-B School Board president to plead guilty, superintendent says

Wilkes-Barre Area School Board President Frank Pizzella Jr., who is charged with passing a bribe onto another school board member, has signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Superintendent Jeff Namey said Tuesday.

February 2, 2010

Sentencing for director continued

SCRANTON – The sentencing for former Wilkes-Barre Area School Board member James Height on charges he accepted a bribe has been continued until March 9.

February 2, 2010

Ex-PA director Oliveri sentenced

SCRANTON – Former Pittston Area school board member director Joseph Oliveri admitted 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.

February 1, 2010

Oliveri sentenced to 12 months, 1 day

SCRANTON -Former Pittston Area school director Joseph Oliveri acknowledged Monday that we 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.

January 9, 2010

Paper seeks Dunn, Scarantino records

SCRANTON – Noting that both men have pleaded guilty, an attorney for The Times Leader and Times Leader Scranton Edition has filed motions to unseal three court documents involving former Wilkes-Barre School Board member Brian Dunn and one document regarding former Pittston Area superintendent Ross Scarantino.

December 30, 2009

Ex-school worker’s time in fraud case likely 4-10 months

SCRANTON – A former Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center employee pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges he accepted thousands of dollars in kickbacks in exchange for helping a technology vendor land deals with the center.

December 17, 2009

Dunn says he’s guilty of bribe

SCRANTON – Eight months and at least five hearing postponements after charges were filed, former Wilkes-Barre Area School Board member Brian Dunn stood before a federal judge Wednesday and said “Guilty, your honor.”

December 8, 2009

Ex-Pittston Area board president to face sentencing

SCRANTON – Former Pittston Area School Board President Joseph Oliveri is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Dec. 22 on charges he accepted money in exchange for helping a contractor get work in the district.

December 8, 2009

Indicted Pizzella heads W-B Area

WILKES-BARRE -- A board member under indictment by the FBI was re-elected to the presidency of the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board on Monday, even as new directors were sworn in to replace two others caught up in the ongoing corruption investigation in the county.

December 5, 2009

Board member named at WVW

KINGSTON – Wyoming Valley West School Board named a new board member to take the place of former member Allen Bellas, who is charged in the ongoing federal corruption scandal in Luzerne County.

December 3, 2009

Who’s been charged?

Complete list of those charged in the ongoing corruption probe.

November 18, 2009

Scarantino starts prison term

When Ross Scarantino reported to a federal prison on Nov. 10, he became the first person in the ongoing public corruption probe in Luzerne County to begin serving time behind bars.

November 4, 2009

Wilkes-Barre School Director Brian Dunn to plead guilty Dec. 2

SCRANTON - The guilty plea hearing for Wilkes-Barre Area School Director Brian Dunn has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 2 in federal court.

October 27, 2009

Hanover director pleads guilty to taking a bribe

SCRANTON – A tearful Anthony Spinozza appeared in federal court Monday morning and admitted to accepting at least $5,000 from a contractor in exchange for his influence in the awarding of a contract in the Hanover Area School District.

October 27, 2009

W-B Area’s Dunn agrees to plead guilty

SCRANTON – Wilkes-Barre Area School Director Brian Dunn on Monday agreed to plead guilty to accepting a $5,000 bribe for influencing the hiring of a teacher, ending months of speculation regarding the status of his case and his position on the school board.

October 26, 2009

W-B School Director Dunn agrees to plead guilty to accepting bribe

Wilkes-Barre Area School Director Brian Dunn has agreed to plead guilty to accepting a $5,000 bribe for his support in the hiring of a teacher within the district.