Munchak’s Public Corruption Appeal Denied

HARRISBURG – In a major blow to former Lackawanna County Commissioner Anthony J. Munchak, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has denied his latest appeal regarding his 2011 conviction on multiple public corruption charges.

Munchak was convicted in 2011, along with former Lackawanna County Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro, on multiple public corruption offenses relating to the Commissioners’ demands for payments and other benefits from individuals and entities doing business with Lackawanna County. The evidence presented during the trial revealed the depths of the corruption, with Munchak and Cordaro using their positions to extort money and favors from those who sought to do business with the county.

According to court documents, Munchak was sentenced in 2012 to serve 84 months’ imprisonment. The Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence on May 31, 2013. Despite the conviction and sentence being upheld, Munchak continued to fight, filing a motion for a new trial alleging that witnesses associated with Highland Associates, an architectural and engineering firm that did work for the County, perjured themselves at his trial.

The Appellate Court rejected Munchak’s claims, stating that “[t]he District Court correctly concluded that Munchak’s motion does not expose false testimony.” The Court further stated that since Munchak’s “new evidence” did not discredit the witnesses’ testimony, “it is impossible to conclude that it creates a reasonable likelihood (or, indeed, any rational chance) of a different outcome by the jury.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. At trial, the government was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Lorna N. Graham, William S. Houser, and Bruce Brandler, with Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Cerutti on the Appellate brief.

With this latest denial, Munchak’s chances of a new trial have been all but eliminated. The denial of his appeal marks a significant victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the law enforcement agencies that investigated the case.

As the Grimy Times continues to dig deeper into the case, it is clear that Munchak’s actions had a profound impact on the citizens of Lackawanna County. His corruption and abuse of power have left a lasting legacy of distrust and frustration among those who were affected by his actions.

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