2 Federal Judges In Pennsylvania Plead Guilty To Honest Services Fraud In Receipt Of $2.6 Million "Finder's Fees"

President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella, age 58, and former President Judge Michael T. Conahan, age 56, both of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, pleaded guilty Monday with conspiring to defraud the IRS, in connection with a multimillion honest services fraud scheme involving the placement of juveniles in juvenile detention facilities. According to prosecutors, Ciavarella (pictured on the left) and Conahan (on the right) concealed their receipt of more than $2.6 million between January 2003 and April 2007 from 2 unnamed individuals as "finders fees" in placing juveniles. In their plea agreement, the two judges agreed to resign their positions, immediate disbarment, spend 87 months in prison and make restitution.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the DOJ's announcement here.