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Date: 08-13-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Steven M. Lukach, Jr.
Case Number: 3:18-cr-00243-RDM
Judge: Robert D. Mariani
Court: United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (Lackawanna County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Michael Consiglio
Defendant's Attorney: Leo A. Latella - FPD
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Description:
Scranton, PA - Former Schuylkill County Clerk Of Courts Pleads Guilty To Mail Fraud And Falsification Of Records
Steven M. Lukach, Jr., age 69, of Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and falsification of records.
Lukach served as the Clerk of Courts for Schuylkill County for approximately 27 years. In 2013-2014, county auditors with the Controller’s Office began an in depth examination of the Clerk’s Office and discovered misappropriation of funds by Lukach. An FBI investigation ensued and while the audit was going on, Lukach interfered with the audit by stealing mail that was sent to banks, forged records and sent the fake bank records to the Controller’s Office. Lukach did so in an effort to conceal that he was taking funds from various accounts for his own personal purposes, such as paying a family member’s credit card bill, paying for meals, making car payments, and other personal expenses.
The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each of these offenses is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
Charges:
MAIL FRAUDS
(1)
MAIL FRAUDS
(2-13)
WIRE FRAUD
(3-10)
FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS IN FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS
(11-20)
MAIL FRAUDS
(14)
TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS BY CORRUPT PERSUASION OR MISLEADING CONDUCT
(21)
Outcome: 08/08/2019 GUILTY PLEA ENTERED as to counts 1, 14 (jam) (Entered: 08/08/2019)
08/08/2019 35 COURT REPORTER NOTES Re: Stephen M. Lukach, Jr filed by K. Yeager of Change of plea before Judge Mariani on 8/8/2019. In accordance with 28 U.S.C. Section 753(b), I certify that these original notes are a true and correct record of proceedings in the United States District Court for the Middle District of PA before Judge Mariani on 8/8/2019. By s/ K. Yeager. (Court Reporter Notes are viewable by court staff only). (cr) (Entered: 08/08/2019)
08/08/2019 36 Statement of Offense Conduct (Consiglio, Michael) (Entered: 08/08/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: