SCRANTON — Although former Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright pleaded guilty to federal charges Tuesday, the federal probe into public corruption that took him down is extensive and ongoing, U.S. Attorney David Freed said today.
“Today’s events specifically deal with Scranton city government and activity within the city of Scranton,” Freed said.
Freed addressed the media and others at Scranton’s federal courthouse, hours after Courtright pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy, bribery and extortion charges in Williamsport.
Courtright’s corruption, which began soon after he was sworn in to his first term as mayor in early 2014, involved using his position and power as mayor to target, extort and shake down vendors, developers and others doing business in or with the city, Freed said.
“He tied official contracting decisions as mayor to amounts of money that vendors paid,” Freed said.
In one instance, Courtright directed an unnamed city employee to give a license to a person not qualified to get one, and also suggested the required reference letters could be forged, Freed said. The license recipient paid Courtright for the help.
Asked why city employees involved in the schemes have not been charged, Freed said: “The question there is, did those people share a criminal intent or were they doing as they were told by an official who had power over their jobs. So that’s what we have to ferret out during the course of an investigation.”
Unnamed intermediaries — fewer than five — delivered cash payoffs to Courtright and checks to his campaign committee. At times, however, Courtright stuffed thousands of dollars of bribes into his pockets, Freed said.
Some of that ill-gotten cash was provided by FBI cooperators; the marked bills they paid him were discovered in a safe during a Jan. 9 raid at Courtright’s home, officials said.
As for whether others may face charges, “That’s what the rest of the investigation is focusing on,” Freed said.
Scranton residents Joan Hodowanitz and Marie Schumacher attended Freed’s press conference.
“This gives me hope that at least someone is looking into the corruption,” Hodowanitz said.
Schumacher felt differently.
“I feel worse because I think we have a lot of people who are going to be rewarded. They’re going to keep their jobs. They’re going to keep their contracts,” Schumacher said.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter