The LuLac Edition #1630, June 9th, 2011

BOB & A.J. TRIAL DAY 4

While the heat and humidity made for some hot and sticky situations on the outside today, in the Federal Courthouse in Scranton Tom Dubis the head of Emergency Services told stories of heated discussions with Commissioners Cordaro and Munchak.
The head of the Lackawanna County emergency services department said today that he got into a heated conversation with defendants Munchak and Cordaro regarding comments he made to the media about his involvement in the selection of a company that built a 911 cell tower. Dubas said the Commissioners called him following their indictment to dispute his memory regarding who had initiated contact with John Brayfee LLC, a company federal prosecutors say shared the profit on the tower with Cordaro and three other men. Dubas said he played no role in the selection of the firm, which was owned by attorney Thomas Cummings. Dubas said Cordaro told him during the conversation that Dubas "came to him," regarding the selection of Brayfee. Questioned by Cordaro's co-counsel, Jerry Johnson, Dubas acknowledged that neither Cordaro nor Munchak threatened him. However, he was concerned about the angry tone in both Muchak and Cordaro’s voices enough about their talks that he contacted the FBI shortly afterward to arrange an interview. Cummings testified that he approached P.J. McLaine with the idea of building a new cell tower for the county. McLaine advised Cummings that he should contact Al Hughes, to act as an intermediary to bring the idea to commissioners. Again it appears that Hughes, a funeral director was the great negotiator and Henry Kissinger of the Cordaro and Munchak administration.
Hughes held no paid job with the county, but Cummings reported that P.J. McLaine advised him he should utilize him as a go-between because he could "facilitate" in getting the project approved. Federal prosecutors say Hughes, was paid $14,000 for his share of the profit after being made a partner and that he received an additional $14,000 to give to Cordaro for his share of the profits. McLaine and a third man were also each paid $14,000.
Court reconvened after lunch with prosecutors calling a principal at architectural firm Highland Associates. Kevin Smith testified that county contracts "were a big part of the activity in the office, especially in 2005." Feds say that the principals at Highland paid Munchak $60,000 in kickbacks and Cordaro $30,000 in kickbacks to keep those county contracts and to be selected for newer ones down the road.
Smith and Dominic Provini of Highland Associates said they made the payments in 2005 reluctantly after another partner in the business, Don Kalina, told them the commissioners had demanded money.
All of the testimony today pointed to a pay for play or pay for work culture in Lackawanna County politics. What has struck me is the virtual timidity of the business people. No one was willing to take a stand against two Commissioners that were elected by a razor thin margin of only 200 votes. How jurors will react to their testimony and their admissions that they paid kick backs out of fear will be fascinating analysis when all is said and done.
Bob Cordaro told news crews on the street that he and Munchak’s rebuttal to the charges filed by businessmen today will be addressed at trial on Friday. Day 5 tomorrow..