HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced Wednesday that criminal charges have been filed against a former State Senator, five former Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials and employees, and two businessmen who had multi-million dollar contracts with the Turnpike. The former state officials are accused of using 'pay to play' schemes for financial and political gain. Their criminal acts resulted in the misdirection, misuse, and theft of millions of dollars of public money, according to Kane.
Charges have been filed against former State Senator Robert Mellow, former Turnpike Commissioner Mitchell Rubin, former Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joseph Brimmeier, former Turnpike Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich, and former Turnpike employees Melvin Shelton and Raymond Zajicek. In addition, charges have been filed against Turnpike vendors Dennis Miller and Jeffrey Suzenski. They are charged with a variety of offenses, including conspiracy, commercial bribery, bid-rigging, theft, conflict of interest and corrupt organization violations.
"The grand jury found that these men were using the Turnpike to line their pockets and to influence elections," said Kane. "That is stealing from the public, pure and simple."
After a lengthy investigation, the 33rd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury found evidence that the Turnpike Commission has been corrupted by some of its very own officials and by some of the individuals who do business with it.
The grand jury heard evidence of secret gifts of cash, travel, and entertainment, and the payment of substantial political contributions to public officials and political organizations, by private Turnpike vendors and their consultants.
The charges show those who 'pay to play' have sought and been rewarded with multi-million dollar Turnpike contracts. As a result, the public has lost millions of dollars, according to Kane.
"The findings of the grand jury are very troubling to me," said Kane. "These were blatant actions. It was almost as though they had no fear of being caught. That kind of behavior has to stop."