HARRISBURG― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced state charges against 20 inmates and accomplices in three state prisons in central and eastern Pennsylvania. These arrests are linked to at least two existing rings, or organized groups of inmates and outside accomplices who conspired to provide false information on COVID-19 unemployment benefit applications.

 

“After announcing our first round of arrests in these COVID unemployment scams, I promised that there were more to come,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Today, 20 more individuals have been charged with illegally taking benefits away from hard-working Pennsylvanians who are struggling during this crisis. These arrests are not the end of our investigation, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues at the federal level to track down those heading these schemes, along with those who are willfully participating and breaking the law.”

 

The first and larger ring was operated in Centre County, out of State Correctional Institution (SCI) Benner. The second ring was operated in Schuylkill County, out of SCI Mahanoy.

 

The Benner ring included two ringleaders and eight additional co-conspirator inmates. Adele Moore, of State College, and James G. Neff Zonge, an inmate at SCI Benner, began operating the fraud ring out of SCI Benner after Moore successfully applied for COVID-19 unemployment benefits on behalf of Neff Zonge. Moore and Neff Zonge established a system in which Moore would use an inmate’s personal identifying information, apply for COVID-19 benefits from her address, and then give the inmate a portion of the collected benefits. Moore would often keep the majority of the money for her own personal use. In total, the SCI Benner ring obtained $153,470 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

 

The Mahanoy ring included two ringleaders, Wendy Danfora and Markal Munford, as well as two additional inmates. Danfora, of York, also took the personal identifying information of her inmate co-conspirators to apply for COVID-19 unemployment benefits. As part of the scheme, Danfora gave a portion of the benefits to the inmates, but kept the majority for her personal use. In total, the SCI Mahanoy ring obtained $109,900 in fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

 

There were also six individual inmates arrested without any known links to a ring. These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation by the Office of Attorney General in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the eastern district of Pennsylvania.

 

Individuals are only eligible for PUA benefits if they are both unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic and available to work. In order to receive benefits, an individual must access the PUA website and file a PUA claim. The applicant is required to enter personal identifying information and answer eligibility questions. Individuals who are serving a sentence of incarceration, or who are detained pending a criminal trial, are neither available for work nor unemployed for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, they are not eligible to receive PUA benefits for the period of their incarceration.

 

Individuals who apply for emergency unemployment benefits when they are employed or incarcerated are breaking federal and state law. Individuals found to be involved with organized efforts to obtain emergency unemployment benefits illegally can face significant prison time and financial penalties. In some instances, like the arrests today, ringleaders of these schemes can face over 60 years, and their co-conspirators can face well over 40 years.

 

Members of the Benner ring include:

 

Adele B. Moore: Not incarcerated and resides in State College, Centre County. Moore first filed for PUA for herself and for inmate Jacob Snook. Moore then conspired with Neff Zonge to file PUA for inmates Butler, Lyter, Baker, Young, Sullivan, Leidig, and Klecha. Moore received a total of approximately $7000.00 from the inmates for filing the applications and from two of the inmate debit cards that she received for the inmates at her residence.

 

James G. Neff Zonge: Inmate at SCI Benner from State College, Centre County. Neff Zonge first had Adele Moore attempt to file PUA for him. His PUA was filed but not approved. Neff Zonge then provided the names of his inmate associates from inside SCI Benner. Neff Zonge provided Moore with the name, DOB, SSN, and mailing address for inmates Butler, Lyter, Baker, Young, Sullivan, Leidig, and Klecha. Neff Zonge received approximately $3000.00 from the inmates for help filing PUA.

 

Todd A. Butler: Inmate at SCI Benner from Columbiana, Ohio. Todd Butler provided his name, DOB, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Butler received $9930.00 in UC payments.

 

Michael C. Lyter: Inmate at SCI Benner from Harrisburg, Dauphin County. Wife now lives in Perry County. Lyter provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Lyter received $12,315.00 in UC payments.

 

Ronald E. Baker: Inmate at SCI Benner from Glen Rock, PA, York County. Baker provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Baker received $13,110.00 in UC payments.

 

Derek L. Young: Inmate at SCI Benner from Watsontown, PA, Northumberland County. Young provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Young received $9930.00 in UC payments.

 

James E. Sullivan: Inmate at SCI Benner from Hawley, PA, Wayne County. Sullivan provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Sullivan received $9930.00 in UC payments.

 

James M. Leidig: Inmate at SCI Benner from Chambersburg, PA, Franklin County. Leidig provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Leidig received $22,245.00 in UC payments.

 

Joseph E. Klecha: Inmate at SCI Benner from Montrose, PA, Susquehanna County. Klecha provided his name, DOB, mailing address, and SSN to Neff Zonge to have Adele Moore file for PUA for him. Klecha received $12,315.00 in UC payments.

 

Jacob P. Snook: Inmate at SCI Benner, From Bellefonte, Centre County. Snook was the first of the SCI Benner inmates to successfully commit PUA fraud. Snook received $10,125.00 in UC payments.

 

Total Theft: $109,900

 

Members of the Mahanoy ring include:

 

Wendy Danfora: Co-Conspirator from York, PA, York County. Danfora is the girlfriend of inmate Markal Munford, who is incarcerated at SCI Mahanoy. Danfora conspired with Munford to file for PUA benefits for themselves, family members and other inmates at SCI Mahanoy.

 

Markal Munford: Inmate at SCI Mahanoy, Frackville, PA, Schuylkill County. Munford provided the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers for other inmates through prison communications to his girlfriend, Danfora, starting at the end of May 2020.  They frequently discussed the scheme during their telephone calls. Danfora kept the funds to spend on herself and three children.  Between Danfora and Munford, they are responsible for at least 13 fraudulent filings, which total $78,994.

 

Inmates at SCI Phoenix who applied for fraudulent COVID-19 unemployment benefits include:

 

Jermaine Plumer: Received $18,264.00 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to non-incarcerated individuals.

 

Rafael Rodriguez: Received $22,109.00 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to non-incarcerated individuals.

 

Dwayne Washington: Received $3,510.00 worth of PUA paid out after he provided personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual.

 

Leroy Barnes: Was never paid, but did provide his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual to have them complete a PUA application on his behalf.

 

Andrew Simms: Was never paid, but did provide his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual to have them complete a PUA application on his behalf.

 

Dexter Pitts a/k/a Kevin Perry: Received $3,150.00 worth of PUA paid out after he provided his personal identifying information to a non-incarcerated individual.

 

The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Castellino.

 

If you believe you have been a target or victim of coronavirus-related fraud, please report it to the Attorney General’s tip line at pricegouging@attorneygeneral.gov.

 

A criminal complaint is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the closure of the Big Sewickley Creek Road Bridge in Bell Acres Borough, Allegheny County and Economy Borough, Beaver County will occur Wednesday night, September 23 weather permitting.

The bridge that carries Big Sewickley Creek Road over Big Sewickley Creek between Hopkins Church Road and Amsler Ridge Road will close to traffic from 8 p.m. Wednesday night through 6 a.m. Thursday morning. Crews from J.F. Shea Construction, Inc. will conduct bridge beam setting work. Traffic will be detoured via Hopkins Church Road, Camp Meeting Road, and Rochester Road.

The work is part of a $2.38 million bridge replacement project.  Additionally, the project includes utility relocation, roadway and bridge widening, pavement reconstruction, guide rail updates, and pavement marking installation.

Please use caution when traveling through the area.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Donors needed this fall to maintain blood supply amid ongoing pandemic
(Sept. 23, 2020) — Plasma from whole blood and platelet donations made through the
American Red Cross that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help current
coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Donors are encouraged toymakermake an appointment to give blood or platelets now to help ensure coronavirus patients and othersothers who depend on transfusions have needed blood products this fall.

In April, the Red Cross began collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma from previously diagnosed individuals, who could only give at one of approximately 170 Red Cross blood donation centers across the country. Convalescent plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies that may help the most critical patients actively fighting this virus. Now, whole blood and platelet donations made at any Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center could be helpful in this effort.

“Donations that come back positive for COVID-19 antibodies now undergo secondary testing to confirm antibody results, and that enables the Red Cross to then potentially use the plasma from those donations for COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Erin Goodhue, executive medical director of direct patient care with the Red Cross Biomedical Services. “With approximately 2% of the U.S. population testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies, every donation is important to ensure patients with coronavirus have access to every treatment option available to them.”

The Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to schedule an appointment, download
the free Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-
2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
In thanks, the Red Cross is offering a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card to five lucky winners who come to give in October. Terms and conditions apply; visit rcblood.org/unite. Additionally, those who come to give by the end of September will receive a free haircut coupon by email to participating Sport Clips Haircuts locations. More information is available at RedCrossBlood.org/Sport-Clips.

About antibody testing Antibody testing may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual experienced COVID-19 symptoms. Donations are tested using samples pulled at the time of donation and sent to a testing laboratory where they will also undergo routine infectious disease testing. COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.

 

Important COVID-19 information for donors
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.   Upcoming blood donation opportunities, Sept. 23-Oct. 15:

PENNSYLVANIA
Allegheny
Bethel Park
9/25/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., South Hills Church of the Nazarene, 5601 Library Road
Carnegie
9/23/2020: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Way Robinson (Hillside), 1050 Campbells Run Road
Coraopolis
9/30/2020: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., DoubleTree Pittsburgh Airport, 8402 University Blvd.
Pittsburgh
9/29/2020: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross Pittsburgh Chapter, 2801 Liberty Avenue
10/15/2020: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross Pittsburgh Chapter, 2801 Liberty Avenue
Wexford
10/2/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Way Christian Community, Wexford Campus, 12121 Perry Highway
_______

10/8/2020: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Manor Twp. VFD, Manor Twp VFC, 167 Byron St
Beaver
New Brighton
9/29/2020: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., New Brighton United Methodist Church, 1033 Sixth Ave.
_______________
Butler
Butler
10/6/2020: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Meridian Fire Hall, 121 Sparks Ave
Saxonburg
9/30/2020: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saxonburg Fireman's Club, 155 Pittsburgh Street
Slippery Rock
10/5/2020: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, 130 Franklin Street
Valencia
10/8/2020: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company, 130 Browns Hill Road
_______________
Lawrence
Ellwood City
10/13/2020: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Calvin Presbyterian Church, 615 Crescent Ave
New Castle
9/24/2020: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lawrence County Courthouse, 430 Court Street

About blood donation
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass ® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
About the American Red Cross The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for- profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or
visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Keystone State News Connection

September 22, 2020

Social Security, Medicare Top Concerns for Older Voters

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Penn. — Older voters in Pennsylvania from both parties say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who will protect Social Security, strengthen Medicare and lower drug costs.

The poll, conducted by AARP, found voters 50 and older in the Keystone State are almost evenly split over which presidential candidate they support, with Biden holding a significant lead among those 65 and older. But according to Joanne Grossi, Pennsylvania state president with the group, 87-90% see support for Social Security, Medicare and drug prices as core issues that will influence how they cast their ballots.

“Doesn’t matter your party affiliation, AARP members over 50 and older Pennsylvanians over 50 are telling us that candidates need to pay attention to these issues if they want their vote,” Grossi said.

She added that in 2018, people 50 and older made up almost 61% of all voters, so older voters could tip the scales in this year’s election.

Voting safely during the COVID pandemic is also a major concern. Grossi said 58% of older voters in the state do plan to vote in person, but voting from home is a viable option for those who are concerned that going to the polls could put their health at risk.

“In fact, last week the Supreme Court ruled that there can even be satellite offices around the state so that people can drop off their ballots at these satellite offices or drop boxes,” she said.

That State Supreme Court ruling also affected the deadlines for voter registration and for submitting absentee and mail-in ballots. Updates are available online at VotesPA.com.

Keystone State News Connection

September 22, 2020

A Guide to Education Rights During the Pandemic

Andrea Sears

PHILADELPHIA — Parents and students struggling to understand how their right to an education is affected by the COVID pandemic can find answers in an online back-to-school guide.

The guide, compiled by the Education Law Center, makes the point that, despite the unprecedented challenges facing schools this year, students continue to deserve equitable, affirming and culturally responsive school spaces. According to Hetal Dhagat, a staff attorney at the Center, this year’s guide also addresses the need for schools to change policies and practices that make learning spaces unsafe for students, especially students of color.

“We want families to know that whether your child is receiving their education in-person, virtually or through a hybrid model, they still retain their important public-education rights,” Dhagat said.

The Back-to-School Guide is available online at www.elc-pa.org.

The guide has more than 20 fact sheets on issues that parents want to know about. Dhagat noted it also includes a checklist for schools that are providing online learning to ensure they are equitably serving all students.

“For example, we are talking about access to internet, those really basic necessities, to ensure that online learning can even begin to occur,” she said.

The guide includes sections on students with disabilities, those in foster care, English language learners and students experiencing homelessness.

Dhagat said the fact sheets can help empower parents to advocate on behalf of their children. But if more help is needed, it is available.

“If you would like some additional assistance, feel free to reach out to the really strong advocates and attorneys that we have in this area or you can reach out to the Education Law Center’s helpline,” Dhagat said.

In Western Pennsylvania, the helpline is at 412-258-2120, and in Eastern or Central Pennsylvania the number is 215-238-6970.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Center Twp., Pa.) An elderly man died as the result of  a dump truck falling on him Monday afternoon in Center Township. Police Chief Barry Kramer said the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m.  on Fronko Street.. Emergency personnel worked to  free the man and he was flown to UPMC Presbyterian according to Chief Kramer.

The victims identity has not yet  been released.

As we continue to look at Beaver County Memories, we turn our attention to “industrial strength” memories.  This segment is part of a special series showcasing the manufacturing sector. Beaver County Memories brought to you by St. Barnabas.

Beaver County is well known for making steel.  Behemoth mills bearing the names of Jones and Laughlin, Crucible and Babcock and Wilcox became legendary for their contributions to the local economy as well as keeping the world supplied with top quality products, as only Beaver County workers could produce. But there were other things that were made in Beaver County.  Everything from fine china to chocolates, to bricks to cork and many other products were created by local residents through the years.

If you go to almost any antique shop in the area, or search online for collectible glassware, one name that continues to be highly sought after is H.C. Fry.  Fry glassware and oven ware, as it was called, was made in Rochester and became very popular in the early nineteenth century. The company was founded by Henry Clay Fry in 1901.  This wasn’t Fry’s first venture into the glassmaking business. Prior to churning out highly prized art deco dinner and tea sets, he founded and ran the Rochester Tumbler Company.  Fry’s claim to success was inventing the equipment and developing a process that allowed decorative glassware to be mass produced by machinery, instead of being hand blown, a change that was  revolutionary at the time.

In its top producing days of the 1920’s, H.C. Fry employed around one thousand workers. One of the more popular product lines developed was a line of cookware that could be used in the oven to bake the entrée, and then set on the table to serve the item.  Back in the day, that was a new concept.  Putting a piece of beautiful glassware into a hot oven was something that had never been done before.  H.C. Fry Blended beautiful design along with material and manufacturing innovation to create very popular bakeware. The signature look of H.C. Fry glass was a somewhat opaque, translucent glass that was sometimes tinted with green or blue color.

Henry Clay Fry passed in 1929, and just a few years later, the company he founded closed its doors, but the legacy he created lives on.  Avid groups and entire clubs have been formed over the years by people who collect Fry Glass. Even today, Fry Glassware is a very popular and recognizable  item that is representative of 1920’s antique glassware nationwide.

This “industrial strength” Beaver County memory has been presented by St. Barnabas. Archived transcripts of this and other Beaver County Memories can be found at Beaver County Radio dot com. Tune in everyday for another Beaver County Memory on WBVP, WMBA, 99.3 F.M., and online through google play and iTunes apps, and Alexa smart devices.

AMBRIDGE, Sept. 22 – Grant funding to two Beaver County elementary schools will ensure students have access to fresh fruits and vegetables for the nutrition they need to stay healthy and succeed in the classroom, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

Matzie said the funding awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program includes grants to Highland Elementary School in the Ambridge Area School District and Rochester Elementary School in the Rochester Area School District.

“There’s no question that students need a healthy, nutritious diet to learn and thrive,” Matzie said. “Unfortunately, with the pandemic affecting household budgets and store inventories, some families have found it more difficult to keep fresh produce on the table on a regular basis.

“Securing this funding will help ensure young students have reliable access to the nutrition proven to promote focus, mental acuity, memory retention and other building blocks of academic success – regardless of household budget or other obstacles.”

 Matzie said the funding, which was not broken down by district, is part of a package of more than $7 million in grants awarded to 230 elementary schools.

Under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, schools will receive between $50 and $75 per student, based on the federal allocation to the state. Funding priority was given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

More information on the grants is available here.