"I followed the custom when I
should have followed the law,"
Former Pa. Turnpike Commission
Chairman Mitchell Rubin
told the court while pleading guilty to one count of commercial bribery. He will serve 2 years of probation, do 100 hours of community service, and pay a fine of $2,500. Prosecutors withdrew nine other counts against him. Mr. Rubin is quoted in “Ex-Turnpike Chairman Mitchell Rubin pleads guilty, gets probation in corruption case,” by Matt Miller, at this November 13, 2014 Harrisburg, Pa. Patriot-News site:
Former Pa. Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier (L)
and former Pa. Turnpike COO George Hatalowich (R)
Although charges were announced last year with great fanfare in an alleged “pay to play” scandal involving secret gifts of cash, travel and entertainment, and campaign contributions, the case against numerous former Pennsylvania Turnpike officials ended quietly Thursday with plea deals and no jail time....
Former Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier and former COO George Hatalowich were sentenced Thursday to 60 months of probation, a fine of $2,500 and 250 hours of community service. The state is not requesting restitution in either case....
Last year, prosecutors charged numerous former turnpike officials, a contractor and former state senator with being involved in what they alleged was a wide-ranging bid-rigging scheme. Defense attorneys for several of the men charged, however, said the state couldn’t prove a “quid pro quo,” that gifts or contributions were given for specific contracts or favors.
-- From “Two former Pa. Turnpike Officials plead guilty to conflict of interest,” by Kate Giammarise, at this November 21, 2014 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette site:
__________
An internal investigation by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission found as many as a dozen employees were sending or receiving sexually explicit emails on the agency's system, officials told the Tribune-Review....
Sixty-one attorney general's employees were disciplined two weeks ago. Some transmitted sexually explicit emails as late as this summer, the office said. Of those, six were fired, two resigned and 11 were suspended. Others received reprimands or were ordered to take sexual harassment classes.
"There should be a full review of every agency," said Harrisburg activist Gene Stilp. He believes that could be done by the state Inspector General, since it involves the use of state equipment and email systems.
-- From “Turnpike employees disciplined over sexually explicit emails,” by Brad Bumsted, at this November 24, 2014 Pittsburgh, Pa. Tribune-Review site:
Lived in PA for 10 years, 2 different residencies. The entire state system of government is a disaster. The only state I know that privatizes what should be state run (think driver license tags and be thankful for the MVA that actually works) and controls an entire business sector that should be private (wine and spirit sales). The turnpike is legendary for terrible roads and high tolls. The state vehicle inspection is a billions of $$ scam that enriches auto repair shops. There are more hidden taxes that you can imagine, much worse than Maryland. For all it's flaws, I'll take Maryland any day.
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