7 ex-Pennsylvania House Democratic staffers guilty in bonus scam

Many of their guilty pleas could draw lengthy prison terms.

Their pleas are the first convictions in an investigation that began in 2007, with the revelation of bonuses paid to staffers and which spun into a wide-ranging public-corruption investigation of Democrats and Republicans by Attorney General Tom Corbett, a GOP candidate for governor.

Corbett's office has filed criminal charges against 25 former and present legislators and staffers. They are accused of using state resources for campaign work.

"It's a victory for justice, for Pennsylvanians and for taxpayers," Deputy Attorney General James Reeder said after the hearing yesterday.

The seven defendants -- most of them former managers for the House Democratic Caucus -- pleaded guilty in agreement for dismissal of some charges. They will cooperate with the prosecution at the Jan. 19 trial of former House Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three staffers. Veon, accused of masterminding the scheme to pay bonuses to staffers who worked on campaigns, maintains his innocence.

Michael Manzo, former chief of staff to former House Speaker and Democratic leader Bill DeWeese, faced 47 charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest. He pleaded guilty to 10 felonies and could face a maximum of 46 years in prison. Sentencing likely won't happen until after Veon's trial.

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