Another public official has been caught in the federal corruption probe in Luzerne County. That makes 19 charged overall.
The latest is former deputy county clerk Bill Brace who dealt with County contracts all the time and it's the first time someone who worked closely with the county commissioners has gone down in the corruption investigation.
For 30 years Bill Brace worked in government. He was a city administrator in Wilkes-Barre for decades and held several posts in county government.
Now he is charged for breaking the law while working as deputy clerk at the Luzerne County courthouse over a three year period. He is charged with taking a bribe.
In court papers, prosecutors said a contractor took Brace to New York City and bought him a tailor-made, monogrammed suit worth $1,500 in exchange for getting a county contract.
"I can tell you that I'm stunned. I'm shocked," said Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla minutes after she heard the news. "Obviously when Mr. Brace was here he was a key component to the administration so it's especially sad that the corruption is running into that depth."
For the first time, federal prosecutors have charged someone who worked close to the commissioners on a daily basis dealing with county contracts all the time.
Petrilla even praised Brace's work when he retired from the county last year.
"We're very very disappointed to hear the news but people made some really bad decisions and they will have to pay for those decisions. Luzerne County is moving forward and we will be a better place," Petrilla added.
"It was a shock to be because Bill was a guy I kind of looked up to because he'd been around in government for so long," said Doug Pape. He was named chief county clerk last year. He worked closely with Brace. He had heard more people working under the courthouse dome would fall but he didn't expect it to be Brace. "Sometimes people make mistakes and I think it was just a lapse in judgment on his part."
Brace faces up to 10 years in prison for breaking the public's trust.
"And he deserves to pay the consequences and he would probably tell you that too. He probably would say I made a mistake and will have to pay the price for it," Pape added.
Bill Brace is currently an independent contractor for the state department of health. The state pays him a fee to process death and birth certificates. Newswatch 16 is waiting for a response from the state on his status there. Brace's status at federal court is that he is expected to formally plead guilty soon.
The latest is former deputy county clerk Bill Brace who dealt with County contracts all the time and it's the first time someone who worked closely with the county commissioners has gone down in the corruption investigation.
For 30 years Bill Brace worked in government. He was a city administrator in Wilkes-Barre for decades and held several posts in county government.
Now he is charged for breaking the law while working as deputy clerk at the Luzerne County courthouse over a three year period. He is charged with taking a bribe.
In court papers, prosecutors said a contractor took Brace to New York City and bought him a tailor-made, monogrammed suit worth $1,500 in exchange for getting a county contract.
"I can tell you that I'm stunned. I'm shocked," said Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla minutes after she heard the news. "Obviously when Mr. Brace was here he was a key component to the administration so it's especially sad that the corruption is running into that depth."
For the first time, federal prosecutors have charged someone who worked close to the commissioners on a daily basis dealing with county contracts all the time.
Petrilla even praised Brace's work when he retired from the county last year.
"We're very very disappointed to hear the news but people made some really bad decisions and they will have to pay for those decisions. Luzerne County is moving forward and we will be a better place," Petrilla added.
"It was a shock to be because Bill was a guy I kind of looked up to because he'd been around in government for so long," said Doug Pape. He was named chief county clerk last year. He worked closely with Brace. He had heard more people working under the courthouse dome would fall but he didn't expect it to be Brace. "Sometimes people make mistakes and I think it was just a lapse in judgment on his part."
Brace faces up to 10 years in prison for breaking the public's trust.
"And he deserves to pay the consequences and he would probably tell you that too. He probably would say I made a mistake and will have to pay the price for it," Pape added.
Bill Brace is currently an independent contractor for the state department of health. The state pays him a fee to process death and birth certificates. Newswatch 16 is waiting for a response from the state on his status there. Brace's status at federal court is that he is expected to formally plead guilty soon.
