Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Date: 10-13-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 3:21-cr-00157-JFS
Judge: Joseph F. Saporito, Jr.
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (Luzerne County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Wilkes-Barre, PA: Criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with depriving another of their civil rights.
Brian Buglio, age 46, of Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, the former Chief of Police for the West Hazleton Police Department, pleaded guilty to a deprivation of civil rights, after he threatened a private citizen with felony criminal charges, in retaliation for social media posts created by the private citizen that were critical of Buglio and of the West Hazleton Police Department.
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Saporito deemed Buglio’s actions an “abuse of power” when he threatened to use the criminal justice system to further his own personal interests. In addition to the term of imprisonment and supervised release, Judge Saporito also ordered Buglio to pay a $5,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and federal agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.
Outcome: JUDGMENT as to Brian Buglio (1), Count(s) 1, Two months imprisonment, 1 year supervised release, four months of which will be home confinement with electronic monitoring, $5000 fine and $25 special assessment. Signed by Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr on 10/5/21. (ms) (Entered: 10/05/2021)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: