New Castle News

Local News

Discussion

February 1, 2010

Trial begins for Mike Veon, aides

HARRISBURG — The criminal trial of former General Assembly dealmaker Michael R. Veon and three of his ex-aides, which begins in earnest today with opening statements in a Harrisburg courtroom, represents a milestone in the attorney general’s three-year public corruption investigation of the Legislature.

The case is also a significant factor in this year’s Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign and should give voters more details about how some of their state lawmakers have balanced their legal obligations with their political ambitions.

A focus of the trial is expected to be testimony by at least some of the seven people, all former House Democratic staffers, who were arrested with Veon and the three others in July 2008 but who recently pleaded guilty and are cooperating with prosecutors. The proceedings follow a full acquittal won in December by the only defendant so far to go to trial in the investigation, former state Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver.

The defendants — Veon, 53, once the No. 2 ranking House Democratic leader; campaign guru Brett W. Cott, 37; computer services supervisor Stephen A.H. Keefer, 39; and Veon district office manager Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, 47 — are accused of conflict of interest, theft and conspiracy in what the attorney general’s office alleges was a multimillion-dollar effort to siphon off public resources for private benefit. The trial is expected to last about a month.

The four and Ramaley are among 25 people charged in the probe that began in early 2007 with news that millions in bonus payments had been quietly handed out to hundreds of employees of the Legislature.

The secret bonuses gave the matter the informal nickname of “Bonusgate,” but the broader investigation involves much more — including how nomination petitions were circulated, the purchase of millions of dollars worth of computer equipment, state employees going onto the campaign trail and allegations that evidence has been concealed or destroyed.

Veon and the others were the first to be arrested, but in recent months three more people with ties to the House Democrats and 10 connected to the House Republican caucus also have been charged. Kevin Harley, spokesman for the attorney general’s office, said as recently as Friday that additional arrests are still expected.

Prosecutors have portrayed Veon as being at the center of the alleged conspiracy among House Democrats. Although they have outlined parts of their case during the preliminary hearing and in extensive grand jury reports, a mountain of e-mail and other evidence has been gathered and could become public during the trial.

Veon’s lawyers have not been shy about charging that Attorney General Tom Corbett has let his dream of being elected governor this year interfere with his judgment as a prosecutor. Corbett is the leading candidate for the nomination in the May 18 Republican primary.

“It’s daunting to fight the power of the state,” said Veon’s lawyer, Joel Sansone. “But the truth is more powerful than the stolen power of people with political ambition.”

Harley said the attorney general’s office has simply followed the evidence turned up by the public corruption unit Corbett promised to establish when he ran in 2004.

“He’s doing his job as attorney general, and that’s what prosecutors and agents do — they investigate,” Harley said. “If there’s probable cause, they file charges. That’s our system, that’s the way the process works, and that’s what he’s doing. He’s fulfilling his oath of office.”

Another criticism has been that relatively few of the alleged decision-makers have been charged. In addition to Ramaley and Veon, Corbett’s office also has charged two former House speakers who still serve in the body — Bill DeWeese of Greene County and John Perzel of Philadelphia — and two former House members, Steve Stetler of York County and Brett Feese of Lycoming County.

“By Mr. Corbett’s own multiple statements, these practices were widespread and long-standing. You might even say historically common,” said Keefer’s lawyer, Bill Fetterhoff. “And therefore yes, it’s not only troubling that employees were charged at all, but it is troubling that a mere handful of the elected members and leaders have been charged.”

Bryan Walk, Cott’s lawyer, said he will argue that Cott’s actions were minor, that he lacked any criminal intent and “that he only did what he was required or asked to do.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • Corvi.jpg News, Herald to launch Business Chronicle

    You will find in Monday’s edition of the New Castle News a magazine called the Mercer-Lawrence County Business Chronicle.
    The News is joining forces with our sister paper, The  Herald in Sharon, which has been producing the Business Chronicle in Mercer County for six years.

    May 26, 2012 1 Photo

  • DYM.jpg Meet the 2013 contestants for Lawrence County Distinguished Young Women

    The 2013 Distinguished Young Women Program will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday in Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door. Here's your chance to meet all of this year's contestants.
     

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • City Council Briefs: Firm to provide city hall security

    New Castle City Council approved an agreement last night with a Butler firm to provide armed security at city hall. Security Service’s fee is $16 per hour under a seven-month agreement, which will run through the end of this year.

    May 25, 2012

  • Offices to be closed Memorial Day

    Local government offices and other agencies will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. They include:

    May 25, 2012

  • McDonald.jpg Ellwood City’s fire chief resigns

    A 9-year-old boy with spinal meningitis opened his eyes when he heard a fire siren. As longtime colleague Don Ries tells it, the siren was calling Ellwood City volunteers to a shed fire at the B&O Railroad freight station.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • gavel.jpg Council considers board compromise

    New Castle City Council talked of possible compromise Tuesday night regarding the status of the city’s Historical Architectural Review Board.

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Neshannock to pave streets this summer

    The Neshannock Township supervisors will spend $208,226 to pave roads this summer. The supervisors last night selected Youngblood Paving of Wampum for the project as the lowest of four bidders. Greg DelPrincipe of RAR Engineering opened and tallied the bids.

    May 24, 2012

  • Custer.jpg Pastor attains master chaplain status

    The Rev. Tod Custer has attained a master chaplain certificate from the International Conference Police Chaplains. Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court recently recognized Custer, an Ellwood City police chaplain, for his achievement.
    Custer will receive his certification in Spokane, Wash.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Improvements set for Little Beaver bridge

    Improvements to a bridge that carries Huston Road over Little Beaver Creek in Little Beaver Township are to begin Tuesday. Huston Road will be closed between Route 351 and Scott Wallace Road beginning at 7 a.m. The road will be closed through late August.

    May 23, 2012

  • Mahoning gets sewer tap-in grant

     The Mahoning Township supervisors have received a $500,000 block grant to help residents tap into the new sewer system. Supervisor Vito Yeropoli, who is also sanitation plant secretary/manager, said the township was notified of the grant Monday.

    May 23, 2012