Justice Orie Melvin, Sister Found Guilty
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C P M C P M G Feb 22 2013 12:13:20:196AM Post-Gazette G A-1 Y K Y K A DRUG FILM SOUTHSIDE WORKS TOUCHING GONE BAD LEADER HAS EXITED THE WALL MAG & MOVIES, B-1 BUSINESS, A-7 VARSITY XTRA, C-1 $1.00 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013 VOL. 86, NO. 206 2/22/13 FINAL Justice Orie Melvin, Ex-bodyguard: Mayor knew sister found guilty of credit union Jury finds that pair used state workers to run campaigns debit cards Ravenstahl By Paula Reed Ward Pittsburgh Post-Gazette denies any No one spoke to the media. No one said whether there wrongdoing would be appeals. Instead, all of the members of By Jonathan D. Silver the Orie Melvin camp — includ- and Rich Lord ing suspended state Supreme Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin and three defense attorneys — Amid the ongoing contro- left the courthouse under escort versy over the use of a police from deputies with the Allegh- credit union account under eny County sheriff’s office. federal scrutiny, a new voice Justice Orie Melvin and Jan- emerged Thursday. ine Orie, her sister and former One of Pittsburgh Mayor administrative aide, were found Luke Ravenstahl’s former guilty Thursday of corruption Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette bodyguards claimed this for misusing state-paid staffers week that the mayor and the to help run the justice’s Supreme Suspended state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, pictured, and her former public safety director knew Court campaigns in 2003 and administrative aide, Janine Orie, are the second and third siblings to be convicted of corruption. that debit cards used by the Lake Fong/Post-Gazette 2009. security detail were linked to The sisters were found guilty the non-governmental account Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of theft of services, conspiracy, that the clerk left voluntarily. court pending further action by Inside for the purpose of avoiding arrives at Pittsburgh police and misapplication of govern- Allegheny County Common the Court of Judicial Discipline. n State officials say Joan media scrutiny about certain headquarters Thursday on ment funds. Janine Orie was Pleas Judge Lester G. Nauhaus “This jury, having sat in a expenditures. Both officials the North Side to meet with also convicted of tampering with declared the jurors hung on that court of law, heard the truth Orie Melvin should never strongly denied it. again sit on the state’s new acting Chief Regina evidence and solicitation. count. about the defendant’s conduct “Luke knew firsthand that McDonald. One count — official oppres- He did not set a date for sen- and has made it absolutely clear highest court. Page A-2 these cards were given to us sion against the justice for termi- tencing but did order a pre-sen- that no one is above the law and they were specifically nating her chief law clerk for fail- tence report for both women. irrespective of title or status,” On the Web given to us because you guys ees whom he said were Mr. ing to do political work — could In the meantime, Justice said Allegheny County District Visit post-gazette.com for were doing the Right-to-Know Crawford’s close friends were not be decided by the jury, which Orie Melvin, 56, will remain video of the jury foreman’s [requests],” said Fred Craw- placed Thursday on paid heard defense witnesses testify suspended without pay from the SEE MELVIN, PAGE A-2 remarks. ford Jr. “You would never see administrative leave. the trail of the hotel bills and “That’s patently false, plain stuff like that from us.” and simple,” Mr. Ravenstahl In separate interviews, Mr. said of the allegations, during Ravenstahl and Public Safety nearly an hourlong interview Director Mike Huss Thurs- with the Pittsburgh Post- day night disputed all of Mr. Gazette in his office attended Crawford’s allegations. by his chief of staff, Yarone Council Groups urge Pa. to join The mayor speculated that Zober, solicitor Daniel Regan they might have stemmed and one of his bodyguards, from ill will over the forced Sgt. Matthew J. Gauntner. staffer listed resignation Wednesday of “I’ve got a guy that doesn’t Medicaid expansion former police Chief Nate have any credibility that takes concerns Harper and the fact that three other police bureau employ- SEE MAYOR, PAGE A-5 By Tracie Mauriello tion would bring 41,200 jobs in gas deal Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and $5.1 billion in increased “The Medicaid economic activity to the state. A day after Florida Repub- The figures represent addi- expansion is a win- By Andrew McGill lican Gov. Rick Scott reversed tional health care workers and win-win proposition Pittsburgh Post-Gazette course and agreed to par- money providers will spend to Acting police chief ticipate in a federal Medicaid expand their facilities as well for the people of Allegheny County Council expansion, two consumer as the impact on other indus- approved a $500 million natural groups pressed Pennsylvania tries where those workers and Pennsylvania.” gas drilling deal despite con- Gov. Tom Corbett to do the companies may spend their — Ron Pollack, executive director faces challenges cerns raised by a senior staff same. wages and profits. of Washington-based Families USA member that weren’t shared Mr. Corbett has been wary The expansion also would before the vote. of participating in the expan- reduce the state’s uncompen- Three of council’s 15 mem- sion because he wants more sated care costs by $878 mil- Restoring public bers, including the president, flexibility than the federal pro- lion over the next nine years State officials said they will faith in bureau received a memo over the gram would allow. by providing coverage to unin- review the study’s data with weekend from director of leg- Families USA and the Penn- sured Pennsylvanians whose stakeholders, but their biggest her main focus islative services Jared Barker sylvania Health Access Net- emergency medical care is now concern is reforming the exist- that posed serious questions work put out a report Thurs- borne by taxpayers, according about the contract with Consol day estimating that participa- to the study. SEE MEDICAID, PAGE A-3 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Energy to drill at Pittsburgh International Airport. On her first day as act- Acting police Chief In a version of the memo for- ing city police chief, Regina Regina McDonald warded among council mem- McDonald placed three peo- bers the day after the vote, Mr. profits by trading the Heinz ple on paid administrative assistant chief since 2004, to Barker listed 27 questions he’d options in advance of the Feb. leave pending the end of an serve as an interim replace- want answered before giving Goldman can’t ID owner 14 announcement that Warren FBI investigation that has ment for police Chief Nate further advice. Among other Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway tarnished the police bureau’s Harper stunned the rank-and- concerns, he questioned the of account in Heinz probe and 3G Capital, a New York reputation. file, with the union president length of the lease, who would private equity firm, intend to Chief McDonald, in a state- initially pointing out that control the contract and how acquire Heinz. ment that would later be she oversaw one of the offices the land would be taxed. By Len Boselovic owner is. The SEC called the trades echoed by the police union, from which the FBI removed None of those questions had Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Securities and Exchange “highly suspicious.” The FBI said she will focus now on documents last week. His com- been addressed publicly, he Commission disclosed the also is investigating. restoring the public’s faith in ments on Thursday were less wrote. A Goldman Sachs & Co. cli- information in federal court The SEC does not know who the police bureau. critical. “The draft lease agreement ent in Switzerland owns the filings in New York. the traders are, but believes “I guess you depend on the raises a number and variety of bank account used to make The agency obtained a them to be foreigners or trad- integrity of the people you SEE MCDONALD, PAGE A-5 questions relating to the wis- suspicious trades in H.J. Heinz court order Feb. 15 freezing ers investing through foreign put in various positions,” she dom of proceeding,” he wrote. options in advance of the $28 the account and prohibiting accounts. The agency’s filing said, adding that people could This story was written by Liz “To my knowledge, Council billion bid for the global food its owner from destroying seeking to freeze the account expect changes in the bureau Navratil based on her report- has received little or no infor- giant. But the investment bank evidence. Regulators said the stated the account name within a week. ing and that of Jonathan D. Sil- has told federal regulators it account was used to gener- The appointment of Chief ver, Moriah Balingit and Molly SEE DRILL, PAGE A-11 does not know who the account ate more than $1.7 million in SEE HEINZ, PAGE A-3 McDonald, who served as an Born. Weather Bridge.........................B-4 Horoscope .................B-4 Obituaries ................A-11 Use this square barcode to access Freezing rain Business .................... A-7 Local News................. A-9 Perspectives .............A-15 on-the-go news with your smart phone. expected. Classified ...................D-8 Lottery ........................ A-8 Scoreboard ................D-7 Learn how at www.post-gazette.com/ Comics .......................B-6 Mag&Movies ..............B-1 Sports ........................D-1 technology/ High 36, low 33. 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