FILE – Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., questions Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 28, 2022. Perry says his cellphone was seized Tuesday, Aug. 9, by FBI agents carrying a search warrant. The circumstances surrounding the seizure were not immediately known. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — -U.S. Rep. Scott Perry says his cellphone was seized Tuesday by FBI agents carrying a search warrant. The circumstances surrounding the seizure were not immediately known. The Pennsylvania Republican says three agents visited him while he was traveling Tuesday with his family and “seized my cell phone.” Perry has been a figure in the congressional investigation into President Donald Trump’s actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Former senior Justice Department officials have testified Perry had “an important role” in Trump’s effort to try to install Jeffrey Clark — a top Justice official who was pushing Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud — as the acting attorney general.

(Ap Photo)

WACO, Texas (AP) — A Little League batter rose from a beaning to console the upset pitcher in a dramatic scene at a Little League regional tournament game in Waco, Texas. Pearland, Texas, righthander Kaiden Shelton was facing Tulsa, Oklahoma, batter Isaiah Jarvis Tuesday when an 0-2 pitch got away from him, striking Jarvis in the helmet. Jarvis fell to the ground clutching his head but was able after a few moments to take first base. Meanwhile, Shelton stood on the mound staring at the ground in tears until Jarvis walked to the mound and put his arms around Shelton to comfort him. The gesture drew a standing ovation.

(Photo courtesy of Keystone News Connection, Provided with release)

Keystone State News Connection

August 10, 2022

Danielle Smith

After eight years, the Pennsylvania school-funding lawsuit is in the hands of the judge, creating a waiting game heading into the new school year.

Oral arguments ended in July. Advocates argued the way Pennsylvania schools are funded violates the education clause and equal-protection provision of the state constitution.

Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Education Law Center, said students of color are disproportionately affected in underfunded districts in low-wealth communities, where they lack such basics as functioning school libraries and up-to-date textbooks.

“The inadequate resources prevent many Pennsylvania students from meeting academic standards set by the state,” Klehr asserted. “The state legislature has an obligation to ensure that every student, not only those living in select ZIP codes, receive the basic resources they need.”

Klehr added Pennsylvania has one of the widest gaps between low-wealth and high-wealth school districts in the nation. A typical high-wealth district in the commonwealth spends about $4,800 more per student than a low-wealth district, and the gap has been growing.

With trial proceedings are over, Klehr acknowledged the judge’s decision may take some time, and predicted it may not signal the end of the battle.

“We are confident about our case,” Klehr stated. “But whatever the outcome, an appeal by the losing side is likely, to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.”

Klehr noted the General Assembly does not have to wait for the outcome of the case. It has a legal obligation under the state constitution to solve the school-funding crisis as soon as possible.

Gov. Tom Wolf recently solidified his legacy with a historic $3.7 billion education budget, which includes a $1.8 billion increase for the coming school year.

Klehr emphasized it is an important confirmation of the spending levels needed in coming years.

“Those kinds of increases will need to be sustained in the years ahead to help get local districts to adequate, equitable levels of funding,” Klehr contended. “And bring Pennsylvania up from the bottom in the share of education funding that is provided by the state.”

Klehr stressed Pennsylvania currently relies on local funding for schools more than almost any other state. Her organization advocates shifting the funding system to recognize the very different needs of different commun

(Sewickley, Pa.) A Sewickley piercing shop owner is facing several charges after a criminal complaint said that he hired a 17-year-old girl and propositioned her for sex several times, even offering to pay her an extra $100 daily if she had sex with him.
33-year-old Zachary Watson the owner of Genisys Body Arts in Sewickley is facing several charges including promoting prostitution, making terroristic threats and corruption of minors.
Watson is accused of making several sexual advances towards her and when she refused, he told her that if the offers he was making ever got out, it could ruin his life. He then motioned toward two firearms sitting nearby and placed his hand on one.
Watson now has a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month

(Photo of Representatives from the five Shelters that rescued the animals. provided with release)
(Center Twp., Pa.)  Five local organizations, including Beaver County Humane Society (BCHS), have teamed up to transport 21 beagles to western Pennsylvania. The dogs were relocated from the Virginia-based Envigo facility that breeds beagles for the laboratory industry after an investigation conducted by the Humane Society of the United States resulted in the surrender of up to 4,000 dogs in July.
“We are deeply grateful to be collaborating with other local regional shelters, said Susan Salyards, Executive Director of BCHS. “What’s so heartwarming about this entire effort is that these dogs will not have to live their lives for research
purposes and can enjoy what it feels like to be comforted and loved in a forever home.”
The cooperative rescue and transport were coordinated by staff at Animal Friends, Beaver County Humane Society, Butler County Humane Society, the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) and Washington Area Humane Society. Through the combined efforts of the five organizations, the 21 beagles were transported from the Envigo facility located in Cumberland, VA to Pittsburgh, a 6 1/2 hour trip spanning approximately 350 miles.
The dogs arrived at HARP’s Northside campus on the evening of Monday, Aug. 8 where smaller groups then made their way to the other participating organizations. Each of the dogs will undergo a medical exam and will receive all appropriate vaccinations and will be spayed or neutered before being made available for adoption.
This initiative was so critical to the five participating organizations after a nationwide plea went out to shelters and rescue groups to assist with this case. Because western Pennsylvania has such a compassionate community that comes together in times of crisis, the staff and volunteers at Animal Friends, Beaver County Humane Society, Butler County Humane Society, the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (HARP) and Washington Area Humane Society came together to make this lifesaving effort possible.

 

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

At their August 9 council meeting, the city of Beaver Falls learned of several grants awarded to the city to help out with purchases for the Library Park project, the Fire Department, and removal of blight in the city.

The largest of these grants was announced by City Manager Charles Jones toward the end of the 44-minute meeting. “I received a letter from the Board of Commissioners,” Jones stated. “I’m pleased to announce that we’re going to receive a little over three million dollars towards stormwater and blight remediation.” The $3 million grant was approved through a request through Pennsylvania state funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Jones also announced a match grant of $30,000 from the DCNR for Library Park; matching a $30,000 expense that was approved by council on Tuesday evening. “As everyone knows, COVID has skyrocketed the cost of construction,” Mayor Kenya Johns spoke, “so costs that were not even feasible–if we’re being honest–are now definitely not feasible. So this is just kind of offsetting some of the final costs of last-minute trying to finish the project.”

The Beaver Falls Fire Department also had good news in regards to grant funding: “Our fire department did receive a COVID-19 Crisis Emergency Medical Services grant in the amount of $37,237,” Chief Mark Stowe announced. “That was a nice shot in the arm for us; that will purchase medical equipment and defibrillators, things like that for our department.”

Several properties were purchased in the city at the Council Meeting, including the sale of a Short 10th Street property to Alex & Danielle Lathom, an 8th Avenue purchase by Steven Cable, the purchase of a 19th Street Property by Lyudmila Tarshik, and the consolidation of a patch of land on 7th Avenue by Matt Nance of Tiger Pause. Nance plans to turn the area into a fenced parking lot.

The council also approved General Fund expenditures of $497,415.16, approved updated Civil Service Rules And Regulations for both the Fire Department and the Police Department, and consulted with Widmer Engineering in regard to the MS4 Stormwater Management Program. Jeffrey Lansberry was hired to join the city’s Department of Public Works effective on August 15.

The next Beaver Falls City Council meeting is scheduled for August 23 at 7:00 PM.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Republican governor nominee Doug Mastriano has appeared briefly before the Jan. 6 committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection. Mastriano was outside the Capitol that day and helped organize efforts in Pennsylvania to submit alternate electors beholden to Trump. Mastriano appeared for less than 15 minutes Tuesday, his attorney Timothy Parlatore said. Parlatore says his client wanted to record the proceeding and questioned the panel’s validity. Mastriano is one of two people expected to provide private interviews Tuesday before the committee, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. The committee issued the subpoena for Mastriano back in February.

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, issued the following statement in response to news that state and federal officials are charging the owner and several former directors and managers of Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center with health care fraud:

“The indictments announced today are disturbing but, sadly, not surprising.

“As far back as early in 2020, I asked Attorney General Shapiro to investigate Brighton Rehab for their apparent malfeasance in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and other concerning information conveyed to me by residents’ families regarding the conditions and administration of the facility.

“Seniors in skilled nursing facilities are an extremely vulnerable population. When families make the gut-wrenching decision to admit a loved one, they have a right under the law to expect the highest level of care and an honest accounting of that care. According to the indictment today, that was not the case at Brighton Rehab, to the point of criminal charges being filed.”

(File Photo taken in 2018 by Frank Sparks)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) U.S. Attorney Cindy Chung and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Federal indictments Tuesday morning against Comprehensive Health the owners of the Brighton Health and Wellness Facility in Brighton Township and  Mt. Lebanon Operations, LLC d/b/a Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center

U.S. Attorney Chung and Attorney General Shapiro stated that both Brighton and Mount Lebanon falsified staffing records submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Health and also submitted fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims that were allegedly meant to get inflated reimbursements.

In all five individuals, including the Brighton Rehab CEO Sam Halper of Miami Beach also facing indictment. The other four listed as co-defendants are 35-year-old Eva Hamilton of Beaver, 41-year-old Johnna Haller of Monaca, 61-year-old Susan Gilbert, of Lawrence, Pa., and 46-year-old Michelle Romeo of Hillsville, Pa.

Chung said via release that “Health care fraud, particularly fraud that impacts elderly patients, is not a victimless crime. It affects everyone. Individuals and businesses alike and cause tens of billions of dollars of losses every year.”

The FBI, Health and Human Services and the IRS were also involved in the investigation.

The official release of the indictments is below:

The 15-count Superseding Indictment, returned on August 5, 2022, named
• Sam Halper, age 39, of Miami Beach, Fla.
• Eva Hamilton, age 35, of Beaver, Pa.
• Susan Gilbert, age 61, of Lawrence, Pa.
• Michelle Romeo, age 46, of Hillsville, Pa., and
• Johnna Haller, 41, of Monaca, Pa., as co-defendants.
Also named in the Superseding Indictment were two nursing facilities operating in Western Pennsylvania, Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, LLC d/b/a Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and Mt. Lebanon Operations, LLC d/b/a Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center.
The Superseding Indictment alleges that Halper, the CEO and part-owner of the two indicted
skilled nursing facilities, among others, conspired with others to defraud the United States and commit healthcare fraud. The Superseding Indictment alleges two schemes: first, that management-level employees at two nursing facilities, Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, knowingly provided, or directed others to provide, falsified staffing records to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) during federally mandated surveys; and second, that the facilities, under the direction of Halper and two other regional directors, Michelle Romeo and Johnna Haller, made false statements in resident
assessments, also called Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments, provided to the government to increase Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Count One of the Superseding Indictment charges Halper and the former Director of Nursing, Eva Hamilton, with, from in and around June 2018, to in and around January 2020, conspiring to defraud the United States by obstructing and interfering with the lawful governmental functions of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); that is, co-defendants Halper and Hamilton, as well as other co-conspirators conspired to interfere with and obstruct DOH in its ability to conduct valid federally mandated surveys of the care provided to residents at Brighton by knowingly falsifying staffing sheets provided to DOH in order to show that the facilities were in compliance with the conditions of participation in Medicare and PA Medicaid. Among other acts, co-defendants Halper and Hamilton, as well as other co-conspirators added the names of nursing staff who were not in the building on the dates listed on records provided to DOH to make it appear as though these nurses were working and providing direct care to residents. The co-defendants allegedly engaged in these acts in whole or in part, to avoid government sanctions, including a denial of payments for new admissions, additional monitoring, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, and other potential penalties.
Count Two of the Superseding Indictment charges these same individuals as well as Brighton, with, between on or about July 18, 2018, to on or about January 22, 2020, falsifying, concealing or covering up by trick, scheme or device material facts in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits; that is, the co-defendants engaged in a scheme to provide falsified staffing sheets to DOH in order to show that Brighton was in compliance with the conditions of participation in Medicare and Medicaid, including that the facility had “sufficient” nursing staff to meet residents’ needs and that the facilities were operating and providing services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and codes. Counts Three through Seven of the Superseding Indictment charge Hamilton and Brighton with making false statements in staffing records with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of CMS, an agency of the United States.
Count Eight of the Superseding Indictment charges Susan Gilbert, the former Administrator of Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and the current Administrator of another facility owned by Halper, with, from on or about October 10, 2018, to in and around March 2020, conspiring to defraud the United States by interfering with and obstructing DOH in its ability to conduct valid federally mandated surveys of the care provided to residents at Mt. Lebanon. Among other acts, the Superseding Indictment alleges that Gilbert and/or other co-conspirators directed
administrative and management-level nursing staff and other employees to “clock-in” for shifts not actually worked. In doing so, Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center created falsified timecard documentation provided to DOH that made it appear as though these individuals were providing direct resident care, when in fact they were not in the building and therefore not providing direct resident care.
Count Nine charges Gilbert and Mt. Lebanon, with, on or about November 13, 2019, and continuing to on or about February 20, 2020, participating in a scheme to falsify, conceal or cover up by trick, scheme or device material facts in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits; that is, the co-defendants engaged in a scheme to provide falsified staffing sheets to DOH in order to show that Mt. Lebanon had “sufficient” nursing staff to meet residents’ needs and that the facilities were operating and providing services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and codes.

Counts Ten through Twelve charge Gilbert and Mt. Lebanon with making false statements with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of CMS.

Count Thirteen charges Gilbert further with, in or around March 2020, participating in a scheme to falsify staffing records at another nursing facility in order to show that this facility was in compliance with the conditions of participation in Medicare and Medicaid.

In addition, Count Fourteen of the Superseding Indictment alleges, from in and around June 2014 to in and around June 2021, Halper conspired with two regional-level employees, Michelle Romeo and Johnna Haller, and others to commit healthcare fraud. Among other acts, the Superseding Indictment alleges that Romeo instructed nursing staff that completed MDS assessments at the various facilities she supervised to make changes to residents’ assessments to ensure that those facilities had certain Case Mix Index (CMI) score associated with higher reimbursements. Romeo and other co-conspirators also instructed staff at the facilities to create false documentation in
residents’ MDS assessments to justify changing a resident’s Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score – a score intended to reflect a resident’s needs for assistance with daily living activities such as bed mobility, toilet use, and eating – by writing a note stating that the changes were made after “interviewing” nursing staff when in fact no such interviews were conducted.
Co-defendants Halper, Romeo and Haller and/or other co-conspirators also conspired to input inaccurate responses to certain resident questionnaires in order to falsely inflate residents’ depression scores. The Superseding Indictment alleges that Halper, Romeo and Haller directed these changes in the MDS data to increase reimbursements and not to accurately capture residents’ medical conditions or needs.

Count Fifteen of the Superseding Indictment charges Romeo and Haller, with from in and around December 2016 to in and around June 2021, with health care fraud related to their involvement in the submission of false information in the MDS assessments to receive higher reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid.
“Our office will continue to hold individuals and facilities that break the law accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Chung. “Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. It affects everyone— individuals and businesses alike—and causes tens of billions of dollars in losses each year.”
“Through our joint investigation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, we found that Brighton and Mt. Lebanon’s senior administrators used two criminal schemes to take advantage of federal programs and make extra money while putting residents at risk,” said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
“These charges today represent a dereliction of duty to report accurate information, criminal schemes designed to manipulate the system, and above all else, companies and individuals that put profits above truthful reporting. I am proud to stand with our federal partners and in unison say, we will not stand by while companies or those who run them break our laws and put people’s safety at risk.”
“Health care fraud impacts every American and destroys the basic trust between providers and patients,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Fraud and abuse take critical resources from across our health care system and contribute to the rising cost of health care for everyone. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to investigate and hold accountable those who exploit the health care system at the expense of patients.”

“Health care fraud will not be tolerated. It is a federal crime that carries serious consequences,” stated Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG remains committed to detecting and preventing illegal actions and holding parties who execute them accountable.”
“Today’s superseding indictment underscores the commitment of our office to bring this investigation to a thorough and complete conclusion,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Actions like those outlined in the indictment are carried out for greed and can put people at risk. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue working in a collaborative manner with our law enforcement partners to prosecute offenders who execute schemes like this.”
As to Counts One, Two, Eight, Nine and Thirteen, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Counts Three through Seven, and Ten through Twelve each carry a maximum possible sentence of twenty years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Finally, Counts Fourteen and Fifteen each carry a maximum possible sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal
history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorneys, Robert S. Cessar, Karen Gal-Or and Nicole A. Stockey are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading the Superseding Indictment in this
case.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.