E-Mail
Print
LACKAWANNA COUNTY ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH FEDERAL INCOME TAX FRAUD
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that today a Grand Jury in Scranton has returned an indictment charging Lackawanna County Attorney Danielle Ross Pietralczyk, age 37, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania with two counts of tax evasion and two counts of filing a false federal income tax return.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the indictment alleges that tax returns verified by Ross under penalty of perjury failed to report any amounts of income she received from private paying clients while acting as the sole guardian ad litem for the Lackawanna County Family Court. It is alleged that the only income Ross reported for 2009 and 2010 was her County compensation reported on 1099 Forms which she received as an independent contractor hired by Lackawanna County.
The indictment charges that as the sole guardian ad litem for the Lackawanna County Family Court, Ross was provided with an annual compensation of $38,000. However, pursuant to a contract between Ross and Lackawanna County, Ross was permitted to bill private paying parties above her County compensation at a rate of $50 per hour. Ross allegedly managed and exercised complete control over her private billings and income. That income was allegedly known only to Ross and not Lackawanna County, nor was Lackawanna County required to approve Ross’s private billings.