Michael Conahan
{{Short description|American convicted felon, former judge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Michael Conahan
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| party = Democratic Party
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Hazleton, Pennsylvania, US
| residence =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| cause =
| resting_place =
| alias =
| allegiance =
| motive =
| charge = Money laundering, fraud and racketeering
| conviction =
| conviction_penalty = 17.5 years in prison
Over $900,000 in fines and restitution
| conviction_status = BOP #15009-067
Home confinement
| occupation = Former judge
}}
Michael Thomas Conahan{{cite news |last1=Archivist |first1=Times Leader |title=Conahan, 'good Guy' To Bad |url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/1295050/conahan-good-guy-to-bad |access-date=14 December 2024 |work=Times Leader |date=2 May 2010}} is an American convicted felon and former judge. He received a J.D. degree from Temple University and went on to serve from 1994 to 2007 as judge on the Court of Common Pleas for Luzerne County. During the last four years of his tenure, he was the president judge of the county.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
He was serving a 17.5 year sentence for his part in the "kids for cash" scandal of giving harsh sentences to juvenile offenders, often accused of minor crimes, sending them to for-profit facilities in exchange for kickback payments.{{Cite press release |title=Former Pennsylvania County President Judge Michael Conahan Sentenced |date=September 23, 2011 |publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation |url=https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/philadelphia/press-releases/2011/former-pennsylvania-county-president-judge-michael-conahan-sentenced |access-date=January 17, 2023}} Due to coronavirus concerns, Conahan was released on furlough on June 19, 2020, to home confinement.{{Cite news |last1=Sisak |first1=Michael R. |last2=Balsamo |first2=Michael |date=June 23, 2020 |title=Kids-for-cash judge released from prison over virus concerns |publisher= Associated Press (AP) |url=https://apnews.com/60189fddb66c89e18963299a3c3995c7 |access-date=June 30, 2020}} On December 12, 2024, the remainder of his sentence was commuted by President Joe Biden.{{cite web |title=Clemency Warrant |url=https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1380216/dl?inline |publisher=US Department of Justice |access-date=30 December 2024}}
"Kids for cash"
{{Main| Kids for cash scandal}}
Along with his fellow Luzerne County judge Mark Ciavarella, Conahan was found to be involved in the Pennsylvania "kids for cash" scandal in 2008.{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Thomas |date=April 1, 2009 |title=Thomas Frank Says 'Kids for Cash' Incentivizes the Prison Industry |publisher=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123854010220075533 |access-date=August 25, 2009}}{{Cite news |last=Janoski |first=Dave |title=Luzerne's other disgraced judge a study in contrasts |work=The Times Tribune |url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/luzerne-s-other-disgraced-judge-a-study-in-contrasts-1.1205381 |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023}}
Ronald Belletiere from Florida was sentenced in the 1990s to 4½ years in federal prison in connection with a Hazleton cocaine-trafficking ring. A witness in that case testified that in 1986, then-Magisterial District Judge Conahan called to tip him off that his drug connection was being investigated. Conahan allegedly referred the man to Belletiere as a safer source to obtain drugs. During a sidebar with a judge in that case, the prosecutor described Conahan as an "unindicted co-conspirator." That disclosure became public in 1994, eight months after Conahan was sworn in for his first term as a county judge. At a press conference he held to deny the allegation, he blamed the charges on "common criminals" looking for favorable treatment with prosecutors.{{Cite news |last=Janoski |first=Dave |date=September 18, 2011 |title=Key player in kids-for-cash learns fate Friday |work=Standard-Speaker |url=http://standardspeaker.com/news/key-player-in-kids-for-cash-learns-fate-friday-1.1205055 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080028/http://standardspeaker.com/news/key-player-in-kids-for-cash-learns-fate-friday-1.1205055 |archive-date=December 20, 2016}}
After becoming Luzerne county's president judge running under the Democratic Party,{{Cite web |title=Conahan, Michael T. Candidate Details |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=208176 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=OurCampaigns.com}} Conahan used his budgetary discretion to stop funding the county public youth detention facility,{{Cite news |last=Max The Cat |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Judge Mark Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan |work=People You'll See in Hell |url=http://pysih.com/2009/02/24/judge-mark-ciavarella-and-judge-michael-conahan/ |url-status=dead |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420112723/http://pysih.com/2009/02/24/judge-mark-ciavarella-and-judge-michael-conahan/ |archive-date=April 20, 2013}}{{unreliable source?|date=January 2023}} agreeing to send juvenile defendants instead to a newly constructed, for-profit facility. He was subsequently accused of agreeing to generate at least $1.3 million per year in receivables that could be billed to taxpayers in exchange for receiving kickbacks from the facility owner. After indictment, he originally pleaded guilty to charges, but later withdrew his plea.{{Cite news |last=Janoski |first=Dave |date=August 24, 2009 |title=Ciavarella, Conahan withdraw guilty pleas |publisher=The Citizens' Voice |url=http://citizensvoice.com/news/ciavarella-conahan-withdraw-guilty-pleas-1.208291 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225022319/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/ciavarella-conahan-withdraw-guilty-pleas/article_91c3115b-5ea4-5b37-9d4e-88fe148efcf3.html |archive-date=February 25, 2021}} His colleague Mark Ciavarella was also indicted on charges of money laundering, fraud and racketeering.{{Cite web |title=United States of America v Mark Ciavarella Jr and Michael Conahan |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/pam/Victim_Witness/Luzerne_County_Corruption/Ciavarella_Conahan/ciavarella_conahan_index.html |access-date=December 8, 2016 |publisher=The United States Attorney's Office |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013145727/http://www.justice.gov/usao/pam/Victim_Witness/Luzerne_County_Corruption/Ciavarella_Conahan/ciavarella_conahan_index.html |url-status=dead }} Both judges were disbarred following the guilty pleas.{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Stephanie |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Pennsylvania rocked by 'jailing kids for cash' scandal |work=CNN |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/23/pennsylvania.corrupt.judges/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226145927/https://edition.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/23/pennsylvania.corrupt.judges/ |archive-date=February 26, 2009}}{{cite court |litigants= Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Ciavarella|vol= |reporter= |opinion= No. 1843 Disciplinary Docket No. 3|pinpoint= |court= Supreme Court of Pennsylvania|date= October 1, 2016 |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/disciplinary-board/2019/no-1843-disciplinary-docket-no-3.html |access-date= January 16, 2023|quote= |postscript= }}
= State investigation =
The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board received four complaints about Conahan between 2004 and 2008, but later admitted it failed to investigate any of them, nor had it sought documentation regarding the cases involved.{{Cite news |last=Echols |first=Noah |date=March 22, 2010 |title=State Failed to Investigate Complaints in Juvenile Court Kickback Scandal |language=en-US |work=Juvenile Justice Information Exchange |url=https://jjie.org/2010/03/22/getting-the-juvenile-justice-system-to-grow-up/ |access-date=January 17, 2023}} In 2006, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation was tipped off about Conahan and nepotism in the county courts.{{Cite news |last=Sisak |first=Michael R. |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Lokuta says conduct board kept Conahan allegations under wraps |work=The Citizens' Voice |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/lokuta-says-conduct-board-kept-conahan-allegations-under-wraps/article_f3d6a3f7-7a80-5add-a920-7bc2a9ccc5e9.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205011448/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/lokuta-says-conduct-board-kept-conahan-allegations-under-wraps/article_f3d6a3f7-7a80-5add-a920-7bc2a9ccc5e9.html |archive-date=February 5, 2021}} An additional investigation into improper sentencing in Luzerne County began early in 2007 resulting from requests for help from several youths that were received by the Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center. The Center's attorneys determined that several hundred cases had been tried without the teenaged defendants having received adequate assistance of counsel. In April 2008, the Center petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court seeking relief for alleged violation of the civil rights of those young defendants. The court initially denied the application for relief, then in January 2009 after charges of corruption against both the judges surfaced, it reconsidered in favor of the appellants.{{Cite web |date=April 27, 2009 |title=Luzerne County |url=http://www.jlc.org/luzerne/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412100902/http://www.jlc.org/luzerne/ |archive-date=April 12, 2010 |access-date=December 8, 2016 |publisher=Juvenile Law Center}}
= Federal investigation =
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service also investigated the two judges, although the particular timeline and scope of the confidential investigations by the federal agencies were not disclosed.{{Cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Peter |last2=Strupczewski |first2=Leo |date=January 28, 2009 |title=Judges to Serve More Than Seven Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty in Kickbacks Probe |work=Law.com |url=https://www.law.com/almID/1202427800493/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023}} Part of the investigation concerned issues that had been raised during disciplinary hearings over the conduct of another former Luzerne County judge, Anne H. Lokuta.{{Cite news |last1=Strupczewski |first1=Leo |last2=Hall |first2=Peter |date=February 9, 2009 |title=Rumors Intensify About Investigation Into Allegations of Luzerne County Case-Fixing |publisher=Pennsylvania Law Weekly |url=http://www.palawweekly.com/getarticle.aspx?id=28264 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131061158/http://www.palawweekly.com/getarticle.aspx?id=28264 |archive-date=January 31, 2013}} In November 2006, Lokuta appeared before Pennsylvania's Judicial Conduct Board to respond to accusations that she used court workers to do her housework, displayed bias against attorneys arguing cases before her, and publicly humiliated courthouse staff causing those employees mental distress.{{Cite news |last=Morgan-Besecker |first=Terrie |date=November 5, 2008 |title=Board: Lokuta violated ethics |publisher=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader |url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Board__Lokuta_violated_ethics_10-31-2008.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901151153/http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Board__Lokuta_violated_ethics_10-31-2008.html |archive-date=September 1, 2009}} The board ruled against Lokuta in November 2008, resulting in her removal from the bench. During the course of those disciplinary hearings, Lokuta accused Conahan of bullying behavior, further charging that he was behind a conspiracy to have her removed.{{Cite news |last=Morgan-Besecker |first=Terrie |date=August 8, 2009 |title=Witnesses back Lokuta claim of conspiracy |publisher=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader |url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Witnesses_back_Lokuta_claim_of_conspiracy_08-08-2009.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812115041/http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Witnesses_back_Lokuta_claim_of_conspiracy_08-08-2009.html |archive-date=August 12, 2009}} Because Lokuta had aided the FBI's investigation into the "kids for cash" scheme prior to the disciplinary board's decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stayed the removal order in March 2009 in light of the ongoing corruption investigations. That paused Lokuta's removal and obviated the election that was scheduled for that May to fill the seat her removal would have left vacant.{{Cite news |last=Morgan-Besecker |first=Terrie |date=March 26, 2009 |title=Ruling: Keep Lokuta seat off ballot |publisher=Wilkes-Barre Times Leader |url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Ruling__Keep_Lokuta_seat_off_ballot_03-26-2009.html |access-date=December 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901150911/http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/judges/Ruling__Keep_Lokuta_seat_off_ballot_03-26-2009.html |archive-date=September 1, 2009}} The supreme court decided, 4–1, to uphold Lokuta's removal from the bench in January 2011, finding that she had indeed received a sufficiently fair trial, regardless of Conahan's adverse testimony. The court also ordered the expungement of the records of 2,401 juveniles who were affected by the judicial misconduct.{{Cite news |last=Janoski |first=Dave |date=January 14, 2011 |title=Former judge Lokuta still off the bench |work=The Citizens' Voice |url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/former-judge-lokuta-still-off-the-bench/article_d0aed5e2-a7c4-5b4f-aac3-bb9631d3aa9b.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205011405/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/former-judge-lokuta-still-off-the-bench/article_d0aed5e2-a7c4-5b4f-aac3-bb9631d3aa9b.html |archive-date=February 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Lash |first=Josh |date=April 12, 2013 |title=Prisons are no Place for Profit |language=en-US |work=Juvenile Justice Information Exchange |url=https://jjie.org/2013/04/12/prisons-are-no-place-for-profit/ |access-date=January 17, 2023}} During the Lokuta hearing, Conahan testified that there were no out-of-court social relationships among the county judges. However, Judge Michael Toole, who was later convicted of case fixing, as well as another county judge, had each stayed at a Florida condo jointly owned by Conahan and Ciavarella.
Shortly after his indictment in January 2009, Conahan pleaded guilty. He later withdrew his plea, intending to take the case to trial. Eventually he pleaded guilty once more. On September 23, 2011, he was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and ordered to pay over $900,000 in fines and restitution.{{Cite news |date=September 23, 2011 |title=Former Luzerne judge Conahan sentenced to 17.5 years |publisher=The Times Tribune |url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-luzerne-judge-conahan-sentenced-to-17-5-years-1.1207994 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126023216/https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-luzerne-judge-conahan-sentenced-to-17-5-years/article_bd9a9758-cc55-5259-9c93-1338024d53d3.html |archive-date=January 26, 2021}} He was initially held in the low-security complex component of the Federal Correctional Institution, Coleman, in Florida.{{Cite news |last=Janoski |first=Dave |date=December 8, 2016 |title=Conahan Sent to Florida Prison |publisher=The Citizens' Voice |url=http://citizensvoice.com/news/conahan-sent-to-florida-prison-1.1233531 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2015}}{{Cite news |date=September 9, 2011 |title=Former Luzerne judge Conahan sentenced to 17.5 years |publisher=The Times-Tribune |url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-luzerne-judge-conahan-sentenced-to-17-5-years-1.1207994 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205011356/https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-luzerne-judge-conahan-sentenced-to-17-5-years/article_bd9a9758-cc55-5259-9c93-1338024d53d3.html |archive-date=February 5, 2021}} After almost a decade in prison, Conahan was transferred in 2020 to home confinement, with an anticipated release date of 2026, under a provision of the federal CARES Act that authorized such transfers as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Rubinkam |first=Michael |date=August 18, 2022 |title='Kids for Cash' judges ordered to pay $200M |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/kids-for-cash-pennsylvania-judges-lawsuit-20220817.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817145855/https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/kids-for-cash-pennsylvania-judges-lawsuit-20220817.html |archive-date=August 17, 2022}}
His sentence was commuted by President Joe Biden on December 12, 2024, as part of a blanket commutation of offenders who'd been granted home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-12 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Clemency Recipient List {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/clemency-recipient-list-3 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-12-12 |title=Biden Commutes the Sentences of Nearly 1,500 Americans, a Record for One Day |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/biden-pardons-commutes-1500.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213043948/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/biden-pardons-commutes-1500.html |work=New York Times |archive-date=2024-12-13 |access-date=2024-12-13 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-12-13 |title=Biden granted clemency to the 'kids-for-cash' judge. The White House didn't consider the case specifics. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/13/biden-clemency-judge-michael-conahan-000890 |access-date=2024-12-14 |work=Politico}} The commutation was criticized by victims of the kids-for-cash scandal, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who said that the decision to commute Conahan's sentence was "absolutely wrong".{{cite web|last=Yang|first=Maya|date=2024-12-14|title=Victims of 'kids-for-cash' judge outraged by Biden pardon: 'What about all of us?'|website=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/14/kids-for-cash-judge-biden-pardon|access-date=2024-12-14}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conahan, Michael}}
Category:People from Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Category:People convicted of racketeering
Category:Temple University Beasley School of Law alumni
Category:Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes
Category:20th-century Pennsylvania state court judges
Category:21st-century American judges
Category:21st-century American criminals
Category:Judges convicted of crimes
Category:Disbarred Pennsylvania lawyers
Category:Judges of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government