Federal Officials Announce the Filing of Federal Obstruction of Justice Charge Against Luzerne County Deputy Director of Forensic Programs in an Ongoing Public Corruption Probe

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Janice Fedaryck, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Leslie DeMarco, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, jointly announced today the arrest of a Luzerne County employee. According to federal officials, Sandra Brulo, age 56, the Deputy Director of Forensic Programs for the Luzerne County Probation Office, has been charged in a criminal complaint with obstruction of justice in that she corruptly altered a juvenile court file with the intent to impair the file’s integrity for use in federal proceedings. This offense carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release.

Mr. Carlson noted that this charge is the latest development in an on-going public corruption probe. According to Mr. Carlson, Brulo is the fourth person charged in the past 26 days in connection with this on-going probe of misconduct at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Following her arrest today Brulo was brought before United States Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Wilkes-Barre and was released on bail pending further court proceedings.

In announcing this arrest, Mr. Carlson stated: “Our system of justice depends upon the hard work of men and women who respect the rule of law, and seek justice. When someone charged with the responsibility of doing justice is alleged to have endeavored to obstruct justice, all law enforcement officials owe a duty to the public to act swiftly to restore confidence in our courts.”

Mr. Carlson noted that the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and by criminal investigators of the Internal Revenue Service. In announcing these charges U.S. Attorney Carlson commended these investigative agencies for their outstanding commitment and tenacity. The case is being handled by a team of federal prosecutors led by Senior Litigation Counsel Gordon Zubrod and includes Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Houser, Michael Consiglio, Amy Phillips and Criminal Division Chief Christian Fisanick.

An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the Grand Jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged Defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges