A well-known Hazleton area attorney who has agreed to plead guilty to charges of giving kickbacks to two Luzerne County judges was wearing a wire to help seal the case against the judges.

Newswatch 16 has learned a document will be filed in connection with this case that states Robert Powell recorded "incriminating conversations" with disgraced judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan.

One day after he agreed to plead guilty, Newswatch 16 went to find the once-powerful attorney to ask him about his plea, and a lot more.

Powell's home in the Mountain Top area is assessed at $1.5 million. It is where we started trying to find the attorney who has now agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud and other charges.

A woman who answered the door said Powell was unavailable.

We went to his law firm near Hazleton too, the Powell Law Group, to get a comment from him or someone in the firm.

An employee of the firm ordered us off the premises and refused to comment on Powell's plea agreement.

Robert Powell is facing five-and-a-half years in prison and a $500,000 fine. He will also have to forfeit his yacht named "Reel Justice" and his personal plane.

Powell was a co-owner of a juvenile detention facility near Pittston. He is accused of to funneling kickbacks to former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella in exchange for keeping the center in business.

Court documents show Powell wore a wire for federal investigators, recording incriminating conversations of the judges.

Powell's lawyer released the following statement: "Bob Powell has recognized that he made a grave mistake and that is why he is pleading guilty to the charges. He's done everything in his power to try to make it right by cooperating with the government."

In February Powell's attorneys issued a statement that Powell was a victim of the judges' demands.

They stand by that statement now as their client prepares to answer to the charges against him in federal court June 18.