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PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:59:22 AM EST
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High-profile Allegheny county coroner Cyril Wecht has been indicted on 84 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and related offenses arising from his alleged use of government resources to benefit his private practice.

FBI agents searched his office, seizing computers and his private files last spring, and three of his employees resigned as the federal investigation proceeded.

Wecht... has said he is careful to not do private work on county time. He also has said he has never been questioned about the private consulting work he has done for the decades he has held a government job.

....Wecht, who is also an attorney, teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. He did not immediately return messages seeking comment Friday.

While I often disagreed with Wecht's conclusions, particularly in the JonBenet Ramsey case, I liked him personally and am sorry for his difficulties.

Former U.S. Attorney Dick Thornburgh is among those on his defense team. If Thornburgh couldn't negotiate a deal prior to indictment, that signals to me prosecutors want jail time from him.

Good luck, Cyril.

Update: The AP reports on the charges:

[The charges include] using county employees to campaign for him and handle his private lab work. The indictment also accuses Wecht of trading unclaimed bodies stored by the county coroners office, which he headed, to a Pittsburgh university in exchange for use of a laboratory there for his private practice....[it] accuses him of using county employees to run private errands and do work for his private practice between 1996 and December 2005.... [they include] mail fraud, wire fraud, theft of honest services and theft from the county coroner's office.

Dr. Wecht responded to reporters today:

"Am I innocent? Yes, I'm innocent," Wecht told reporters Friday evening. Asked whether he thought the indictment would affect his reputation, he said: "Reputation is in the eyes of the beholder, as is beauty. So we'll see how it plays out with people."

Wecht's side says the charges grew out of a feud with the District Attorney.

The attorneys said the investigation began as a result of "fanciful allegations" by the county district attorney, with whom Wecht has feuded. They also questioned the U.S. attorney's jurisdiction over his conduct in county government. The indictment said federal authorities have jurisdiction because the county uses some federal funds.

As for who might be witnesses against him:

Two people who worked for him were indicted, one accused of performing private lab work on county time, the other of submitting false mileage reimbursement invoices for work done in neighboring counties.

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    PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dadler on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 10:22:16 AM EST
    Where's Quincy when you need him?

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 10:53:57 AM EST
    It is the Democrats culture of corruption.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:39:35 AM EST
    I wonder with all the coroners and lawyers being paid as consultants nowadays what makes this case special? It just seems to smell a little rotten to me. Are axes be ground here? I can't wait to hear the back story as well as Dr. Wecht's side.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#4)
    by joejoejoe on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 12:11:15 PM EST
    I wonder with all the coroners and lawyers being paid as consultants nowadays what makes this case special? Doing substantial personal business while employed by a private company isn't a crime but for most people but it can get you fired. Doing personal business in a government job and the associated misuse of public resources IS A CRIME. Just because it happens all the time doesn't make it right. Blue collar government employees get nabbed all the time for working part of a shift and then taking a second job or just leaving early. Just because you are a desk jockey doesn't make it any more legal or ethical.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 12:30:31 PM EST
    Anyone remember the thoroughbred named Jacqueline Klugman? Quincy owned that horse. Pretty good philly back in the 80's.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#6)
    by joejoejoe on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 01:10:09 PM EST
    I don't remember Jaklin Klugman but since this thread is turning into a situationist movement I will share this interview with Jack Klugman from HorsePlayer Magazine:
    Going to that 1980 Derby was the most-exciting experience of my life. I was with Fred Astaire once when he had a $9,000 claimer win a race and he invited me down to the winners' circle and he danced, literally danced, all the way down there. I said, “Geez, a $9,000 claimer and you're dancin'?” He said, “Jack, if you ever have the opportunity of your horse winning the Kentucky Derby or you winning the Academy Award, you'll pick the Derby.” He was right. There was never any thrill like seeing Genuine Risk, the filly, in front and then my horse comes out of the pack and the announcer says, “…And here comes Jaklin Klugman!” I was never so excited in my life. A mile-and-a-quarter was a little far for him, but you couldn't beat him at a mile when he was fit. He was fit for the Jerome and won it in 1:34-1/5 with Cordero pinning him down on the fence the whole way. That was really something; he was a helluva horse.
    Good luck to Cyril Wecht but I'll put my $2 dollars on that nag Blind Justice.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 02:59:05 PM EST
    There must be something more here. Cyril Wecht is very prominent and brought notoriety to his department. This doesn't strike me as the kind of case where the fire chief has his men mow the lawn at his house. There must be something more.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#8)
    by jondee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 06:41:45 PM EST
    Wecht was, I believe, one of those who claimed to have disproved the Warren Commisons findings. Wrote a book about it I think.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 05:28:26 AM EST
    Sorry, Cyril, I sympathize more than you know. But you still owe me $1500.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 07:40:06 AM EST
    Many who observe politics in Allegheny County saw this coming when the D.A. began his news "bites" claiming Wecht stepped on his toes and hindered his ability to do his job.Does J. Gammage bring to mind the base issue here???? It certainly should.

    Re: PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 27, 2006 at 09:05:51 PM EST
    I was an intern under Dr. Wecht recently, and I will tell you that I do not believe any of these charges against him. I never saw anything the slightest bit shady or illegal going on in his office. In my opinion, Dr. Wecht has been falsely accused and I wish him the best of luck in his defense.

    PA Coroner Cyril Wecht Indicted | 11 comments (11 topical)