HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Pennsylvania transit official has been spared jail time after admitting he had bus drivers inflate ridership figures to boost state funding.
The Citizens’ Voice reports (https://bit.ly/1JWV2Hx ) that 61-year-old Stanley Strelish pleaded guilty Thursday to tampering with public records. Prosecutors say Strelish and another official ordered bus drivers to exaggerate the number of senior citizens using the bus service. The ghost riders boosted state funding to the authority.
The suspended Luzerne County Transportation Authority executive director apologized and cited his ailing wife’s health in asking for mercy.
A judge sentenced him to five years of probation, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. It’s unclear how the plea will affect his job with the authority.
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Information from: The Citizens’ Voice, https://www.citizensvoice.com
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