W-B Area school officials served with multiple federal subpoenas
By: Joe Holden
Updated: August 16, 2012
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County- Not a word was spoken during a school board meeting about a surprise visit by two special agents from the U.S. Secret Service. Agents served Dr. Jeffrey Namey with as many as five subpoenas moments before the meeting started.
Namey confirmed after the board meeting the subpoenas sought district records related to hiring and billing, emails, information on him, the solicitor, Raymond Wendolowski and Leonard Pryzwara, the district's business administrator.
Namey would not release copies of the subpoenas to members of the media.
The longtime educator and leader of a district badly beaten down by corruption in recent years retired after Wednesday's meeting. Board members gave him a standing ovation and presented him with a gift.
Federal agents appeared to closely follow the board's agenda and monitor how officials voted.
Numerous board members, including President Maryanne Toole said she was unaware the agents had remained for the entire meeting. She said she couldn't recall a meeting where federal law enforcement was present.
Board members were expected to ram through a series of hires, including the wives of members Louis Elmy and Robert Corcoran and the son of John Quinn.
Sources claim the plan was dropped, in part, because of questions posed earlier Wednesday by Eyewitness News and possible pressure brought by the presence of law enforcement officials.
Another source claimed the hiring moves lacked enough support to pass.
Namey said one of the subpoenas dealt with John Quinn, the son of a school board member with the same name. Quinn, the son, was up for a job in the district until the agenda was scrapped.
Sources claim Quinn is being looked in connection to an old altercation that allegedly involved a student. His father angrily denied allegations of impropriety against his son. Quinn was trailed by TV cameras up and down flights of stairs at the administration building. He refused to stop and talk to reporters. He mumbled, "I don't want any part of this."
Quinn, the board member, is a former district basketball coach and Wilkes-Barre Township official.
Namey said the information sought by Secret Service agents is due by August 28.
An undisclosed number of board members apparently took Namey out for dinner following the meeting.
Namey confirmed after the board meeting the subpoenas sought district records related to hiring and billing, emails, information on him, the solicitor, Raymond Wendolowski and Leonard Pryzwara, the district's business administrator.
Namey would not release copies of the subpoenas to members of the media.
The longtime educator and leader of a district badly beaten down by corruption in recent years retired after Wednesday's meeting. Board members gave him a standing ovation and presented him with a gift.
Federal agents appeared to closely follow the board's agenda and monitor how officials voted.
Numerous board members, including President Maryanne Toole said she was unaware the agents had remained for the entire meeting. She said she couldn't recall a meeting where federal law enforcement was present.
Board members were expected to ram through a series of hires, including the wives of members Louis Elmy and Robert Corcoran and the son of John Quinn.
Sources claim the plan was dropped, in part, because of questions posed earlier Wednesday by Eyewitness News and possible pressure brought by the presence of law enforcement officials.
Another source claimed the hiring moves lacked enough support to pass.
Namey said one of the subpoenas dealt with John Quinn, the son of a school board member with the same name. Quinn, the son, was up for a job in the district until the agenda was scrapped.
Sources claim Quinn is being looked in connection to an old altercation that allegedly involved a student. His father angrily denied allegations of impropriety against his son. Quinn was trailed by TV cameras up and down flights of stairs at the administration building. He refused to stop and talk to reporters. He mumbled, "I don't want any part of this."
Quinn, the board member, is a former district basketball coach and Wilkes-Barre Township official.
Namey said the information sought by Secret Service agents is due by August 28.
An undisclosed number of board members apparently took Namey out for dinner following the meeting.
