Pennsylvania Court Administrator Stole Seized Gambling Money

It is common practice during police raids around the US that money and other illegal gambling paraphernalia are seized during raids. People have long wondered where exactly all of that seized money goes.

In Pennsylvania, the answer comes in the form of Luzerne County Court Administrator William T. Sharkey Sr. He was indicted and will plead guilty on charges that he stole over $70,000 in gambling money that had been seized.

The way he ran the scam was to have county judges sign forfeiture orders for the funds. Then, instead of transferring the money into the County Treasurers Office, he re-routed it for his personal use. The money was also never filed into the court records.

Sharkey has already worked out a plea agreement with prosecutors in which he will repay all of the money that he illegally stole. That may come at the expense of his house, car, and state pension fund. He still faces up to ten years in prison as well.

The indictment of Sharkey will certainly raise eyebrows around the country. For years officers have been seizing money from gambling raids. Sometimes authorities take all the money in someones house when they make arrests. Questions have been raised before as to where that money has gone.

With DiMasi Out Casino Talks Heat Up In Massachusetts
Gambling Could Prove Costly For Children Under New Washington Law
Indian Reservations May Get Casino Gambling In Nebraska
Gambling Compared To Underage Drinking In Washington
Public Awareness Needed From States Involving Problem Gambling