There’s something about a courtroom that brings out the Jesus in people.

Greg Skrepenak talks with reporters outside of the federal courthouse in Scranton. He had asked for leniency because of family needs and public service. AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Maybe it’s the air.

Could be something in the water.

Maybe it’s a little-too-late-last-ditch-effort-to-find-salvation before heading to the lock-up.

I think it’s just plain, old fashioned bullshit.

Criminals facing trial and awaiting their sentence suddenly find God moments after their fate has been sealed by judge and jury. The guy who murdered his wife and family asks God for forgiveness while the guy in the next courtroom over is thanking God that he was granted probation for his 18th drug offense.

Lets face it, if God were on the side of the criminal, do you think he or she would be in front of a judge to begin with? And if God were on the side of the offender, why didn’t God stop the crime from being committed.

To set the record straight, I was raised Catholic but after selling one too many magazines, candy bars and instant bingo tickets, I turned agnostic. One thing that I remember being taught was that God is a loving and forgiving god.

Really?

Would God really forgive the man who murdered his family?

I don’t think so.

Yesterday, the big guy’s name was invoked (numerous times) by one of Luzerne County’s most infamous gangsters, Greg Skrepenak. The former county commissioner was sentenced to two years in prison for accepting a kickback from a developer for inclusion in a tax deferment program, although court documents show that Skrepenak took “more than one” kickback during his tenure.

After sentencing, Skrepenak met with reporters outside the courthouse and issued a statement peppered with words we would expect from someone who just found Jesus in a jumpsuit:

• “I’m blessed enough to have a support system….”
  
• “Somehow through the grace of God we’ll survive.”
  
• “On the holy day of the transfiguration for us, I feel I’ve been transformed. I’ve been allowed the chance to go down the depths of hell and be transformed.”
  
• “God willing, we’ll move on and start the rest of my life.”
  
• “This is the path that the good lord has chose for me now, I accept it.”
  
• “My service will be to the good lord now.”

That last quote is my favorite. I just hope Skrepenak serves the good lord as well has he has served the citizens of Luzerne County during his term as commissioner. There were some other memorable quotes from his statement that I can’t go without acknowledging:

“I’m not to happy about the sentence, I think its pretty severe.” Sorry Greg, should have thought about the consequences before lining your pockets with bribes.

“I was trying to please too many people and I compromised myself.” Your job as an elected official is not trying to please people, your job is to do what is best for the county whether that pleases people or not is not your responsibility.

“My best days are yet to come and I look forward to those days.” I think he may have been taking about his golf game, I don’t see too many “best days” ahead for Skrepenak anytime soon.

“I would be very careful as to who I trusted.” This will prove to come in handy once his prison term starts. Never trust the guy wearing the dress and bright red lipstick who stars calling you “Big Daddy Skrep.”

“I forgive everyone who have, I believe, in the past have wronged me and betrayed me.” Greg, please.  People didn’t wrong and betray you, you wronged and betrayed the public trust. The people who wronged and betrayed you turned you in for your wrongdoing, don’t continue to make everyone feel you are the victim, because you’re not.

There are a “lot of angry people, lots of hate, its tough to see the hate right now being directed at me.” Yes Greg, we’re all angry and we all hate you. Please don’t lose any sleep over it.

“I’ll get back involved in some capacity.” Heaven forbid! Although in Luzerne County, if we allowed convicted felons to run for office and he ran, he would win.

And my personal favorite, “my best days are coming and I’ll be serving someone in some capacity.” Yes, we know how those prison relationships go. Just remember, they’re never long term and often end in heartbreak.

They stood proudly in the Lackawanna County Stadium sharing their excitement that they just inked a deal to bring the Triple A team of the New York Yankees to to Moosic. But at what cost?

Bob Cordaro & A.J. Munchak are Yankees Fans! Yes, They Really Are! Read the Indictment!

They sat next to each other during Lackawanna Commissioner’s meetings announcing plans of grandeur, many which never panned out. But at what cost?

A.J. Munchak Really Does Love Bob Cordaro - Just Look at that Smile!

The gave actor/director Paul Sorvino taxpayer money to make a movie in Scranton that has yet to be finished. But at what cost?

Paul Sorvino Is Making A Movie. Thanks Lackawanna County for the Money! Too Bad There's No Movie.

They danced the night away and hobnobbed with the area elite at the grand opening of the new Wilkes-Barre / Scranton International Airport. But at what cost?

Everybody's Favorite Public Masturbator, Fomer Congressman Wanker McDade all Smiles at the Opening of the Airport with Bobby at his Side

The sweeping indictment that came down this week on former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Cordaro and sitting Commissioner A. J. Munchak should have come at no surprise to anyone. It’s long been rumored, even when the duo was in office, that these two slick politicians were as crooked as the day is long.

If you dare to read through the 50-plus page indictment it reads like a Paul Sorvino treatment for a mob film. Listed are 40-counts including racketeering, fraud, extortion, bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, tax evasion… the only thing missing is murder.

Just as former Luzerne County Commissioner and elitist pretty-boy Todd Vonderheid used a shill in the form of Greg Skrepenak, Bob Cordaro had A. J. The always smiling, friendly teddy bear-like Munchak was Bobby’s best friend because he didn’t know any better. Vonderheid was Skrep’s puppet-master and Cordaro was Munchak’s, and the end result is much the same.

Skrepenak says he didn’t know that accepting a kick-back from someone for a favor was illegal and is now using the stupidity clause to plead himself out of spending time in the big house making license plates. Munchak and Cordaro are following the same course thumbing their noses at the Federal Government and denying culpability on the 40-counts against them.

Munchak, now in the fight of his life, was quoted as saying, “I will be found innocent.” Cordaro, who seemed to funnel most of the money and gifts to himself says through his attorney, “we are not happy this indictment has been brought, but we fully intend to address the charges.” Gee, I wouldn’t be happy with being indicted either, glad to see Bob’s attorney agrees.

In addition to accepting tickets for ball games, a trip to Monte Carlo, an executive producer credit in a yet-to-be-made movie, the team who once ran on a platform of “Moving Lackawanna County Forward,” is now accused of pocketing nearly a half-million dollars in cold, hard cash. I have to give them credit, they were a hell of a lot smarter than Vonderheid and Skrepenak. Cordaro and Munchak got caviar and champagne, the wonder boys of Luzerne County got cheese sandwiches and tap water.

There are several projects in Lackawanna County that need to be looked into to see if these snakes slithered into the pockets of contractors looking for their birth-right…. some I can think of, include:

• The Wilkes-Barre / Scranton International Airport – the new multi-million dollar terminal named after public wanker Joe McDade was laden with “change orders” that quickly drove the cost way over budget. If the project was specced out correctly from the beginning, change orders and cost overruns shouldn’t have happened. (Remember the change order for sidewalks because they were left out of the original proposal?)

• Wing’s Restaurant inside the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton International Airport – owned by Lackawanna County political power-broker Leo Vergnetti, the taxpayers paid for all the equipment in his restaurant and was given the concession rights without putting it out to bid “because he was a tenant in the old terminal for years.” Leo hit the lottery, although I hear business ain’t too good.

• The Lackawanna County Visitors Center at Montage – just why did we need such a palace at the foothill of the Shoppes at Montage?

• The Yankee’s of course – Luzerne County cried “foul ball” from the very beginning when Cordaro shut them out of negotiations after the Phillies pulled out. Bobby single-handedly hammered out the deal to bring the team to town and pledged that the boys from New York would build a “Yankee Village” near the stadium to attract fans by the thousands. We’re lucky we can fill half the stadium on a Saturday afternoon on a beautiful sunny day in July.

• Paul Sorvino – just where did the money go that Lackawanna County gave Paulie to make the movie, “The Trouble with Cali?” According to a recent interview WNEP-TV had with the filmmaker, he needs more money in order to finish it. Don’t expect to see it in a theatre near you anytime soon. I guess that means we won’t get to see “Robert Cordaro – Executive Producer” in the credits either.

I’m sure there are plenty more projects and dealings that can be added to the list and it may just be endless.

While the only interaction I’ve had with A. J. Munchak was the exchange of “hellos” at one of his favorite hang outs, Brutico’s in Old Forge, I did have some dealings with Bob Cordaro. The first occurred many years ago when I worked in radio. Bob was always an aspiring broadcaster and for a short time owned a station that I departed from just before he bought it. I later started talking to him about buying that station, but he managed to get way more than it would ever be worth from a religious sect who now uses it to spread their message. I remember telling him, “Bob, if they’re willing to give you that kind of money for that place, take it and run and never look back.”

Several years later when I was looking at moving one of my former companies to Lackawanna County, we had a meeting with Bob, and afterwards I felt like I needed to take a shower. He’s as slick a politician as his slick-backed hair and knows how to talk. It will be interesting to see if his smooth talking and deal making can land him a sweetheart plea deal with the feds.

Both Bobby and A.J. Are facing several hundred years in prison and millions in fines if they are convicted of all the charges against them. But I have my doubts that they will see more than a slap on the wrist. As has been evidenced in Luzerne County, the thieving politicians who have made plea deals so far have bargained down to a few months in prison and virtually nothing in fines as a “thank you” for being cooperative. This could play out in Bob and A.J.’s favor, but let’s hope not.

I recall seeing a television commercial for their last run together where Bob and A.J. were standing in the doorway of one of the trains at Steamtown patting each other on the back for the work they did in their previous term. I can only ask, but at what cost.”

Nobody could say they didn’t see this one coming!

For how much longer with AJ and Bobby have those smiles on their faces?

Munchak was interviewed by the feds Wednesday afternoon and apparently the conversation was so grueling that he said he was “tired” afterwards. No word on whether he headed over to Brutico’s in Old Forge where he’s often seen enjoying some great Italian food.

When A.J. and Bobby ran things “up the line” Cordaro was always the mouth piece. Munchak just stood behind and shook his head and smiled. Much like how things were in Luzerne County when elitist Todd Vonderheid led the pack. His running mate, dumb-jock, turned criminal commissioner, Greg Skrepenak just stood in the background with his mouth shut while Todd shoveled the BS.

Many say that, like Skrepenak, Munchak wasn’t smart enough to devise and carry out complex schemes and that Cordaro was the brains wrapped up in expensive suits. However, the fact remains that if the feds are ready to lay down indictments against Bobby and A.J., some hanky-panky has been going on in Lacakawanna County. I say it’s been going on for years!

The FBI has their hands full in both Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and it’s going to be interesting to see how things play out up north.

Will A.J. and Bobby play nice with the feds?

Will A.J. end up resigning?

Will Cordaro have to apologize to George Steinbrenner?

Tune in tomorrow, same time, same channel!

Ok, so I’m a couple days late bidding 2009 a fond farewell.

Well, it’s not a “fond” farewell. It’s more like good riddance, thank God it’s over and lets move on.

The year that just passed is one that contained moments I’d like to remember and moments I pray to forget. I sold one of my businesses which relieved me of a great deal of stress while at the same time dealing with the end of a 16-year relationship that forced me to start my life anew.

Always up for a challenge, I faced what was thrown at me head-on, recreating myself every step of the way. I took on a new role in the company I helped build over the last seven years, one with less responsibility so I can one again enjoy what I do.

I bought a new home and started a new life in south Florida where the weather is warmer, my mood is better and my productivity is, well… up. I kept my home in Scranton and rack up the frequent flyer miles traveling back and forth each week to spend a few days in the office and to enjoy the company of my two Chihuahua’s who haven’t made the move to Florida yet.

I refinanced my mortgage from some crazy rate in the high 7′s to something around 5. I was told that I was acting “responsible” by doing that, so it made me feel good, and it leaves me with more money at the end of the month to squander on vices such as…. well, let’s not go there.

I still didn’t get to the dentist for this toothache that has plagued me since after Thanksgiving. I’m still waiting for the dentist to respond to the “Contact Us” form I submitted on his website and the note I posted on his Facebook page. I have an iPhone and since every phone call I make or receive with AT&T gets disconnected, so I have to resort to other means of communication. So when my upper right molar falls out due to rot, I’ll blame Apple.

I enjoyed blogging about all the corruption in Luzerne County that was finally brought to light in 2009. It makes me happy to see people like Greg Skrepenak, Jeff Piazza and all these other small-time gangsters who think they’re Al Capone get caught with their fingers up their ass. I’m still waiting for one person in particular to get nabbed, who will remain nameless, but those close to me know exactly who he is.

I’m looking forward to 2010 to see how many more skanky women will say they got their hands on Tiger Wood’s club. I’m scared to see just how bad President Obama is going to wreck the health care system, which makes me want to get this tooth looked at even sooner. I’m not looking forward to the day when the terrorists finally do carry out another attack on the United States. We dodged a big bullet on Christmas Day because of multiple failures in the government, and being a man of very little faith, I don’t feel all that safe knowing a plane almost got blown up because warning signs were ignored for months.

It’s time to move forward.

Time to forget the mistakes of the past and concentrate on not making them again in the future.

So start working on that.

As for me, I’m still going to be the crazy, miserable, son-of-a-bitch you’ve come to know and love/hate. After all, everybody can’t buy into this “new year – new you” crap you know!

The Big Boy Ain't Smiling Today!

According to the criminal complaint, Skrep took five-grand in return for supporting the creation of a tax increment district that benefited the developer building a project in Jenkins Township. Who is that developers? Well, the Citizens Voice says it’s none other than Anthony Trombetta. The same guy Skrep bought his townhome from and the same guy who built the development Skrep is living in. Hmmm, very convenient ain’t it?

Trombetta has been a key figure in this corruption probe for a while now. Contracts that his technology company, Intellacom, Inc., have had with school districts have suddenly been put under the microscope by the feds. So far Tony T hasn’t been charged with anything, but it certainly appears as if the walls are closing in on him.

You may remember a few weeks ago, Trombetta’s short order cook at his failed Portofino Restaurant, Jeff Piazza, pled guilty to corruption. That plea came in connection with technology contracts that were doctored up so that Jeffie could get a good kickback to feather his nest. Anyone care to guess who those contracts were with? (Read about Jeff’s plea in this blog post from December 4th.)

Skrepenak expresses remorse for failing.

He now calls upon God for forgiveness.

He said he didn’t think what he did was wrong.

Typical reactions from a loser.

Lets just hope they have an orange jumpsuit that fits him.

Judge Muroski held a press conference a few minutes ago to explain the procedure for selecting a replacement commissioner to fill the seat which is now empty after Greg Skrepenak resigned. Seems luck had run out for Skrep. Skrep’s close associates already signed plea deals and it was only a matter of time before Uncle Sam nabbed him as well.

The next few days will prove to be interesting as more details emerge on what exactly the dumb jock did besides never show up for work. Judge Muroski gave those interested in applying for the commissioner seat until Monday at 4pm to apply. Filling this seat is important as the county hasn’t passed a budget and time is running out. Without a third commissioner, the key vote to approve the budget can’t be approved.

The Times Leader provided a great service by streaming the press conference live on their site this afternoon. It’s exciting to see them embrace technology. While watching the press conference, I couldn’t help but notice the smile on Commissioner Steve Urban’s face:

That smile just says “sweet, sweet justice!”

I also happened to see WILK’s own Sue Henry packing up a microphone before heading out of the courthouse, or “ding dome” as she calls it. Nice to see ya Sue!