Order No. 1770 (Ralston)
Narcotics Agent III/Supervisory Narcotics Agent
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Philadelphia, PA 19153
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Joseph Ralston (“Ralston”), a public employee in his capacity as a Narcotics Agent III/Supervisory Narcotics Agent with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (“OAG”) from May 2007 until June 23, 2017, violated Section 1105(b)(5) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(5), when he failed to disclose all direct or indirect sources of income in excess of $1,300.00, namely: income received from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 during calendar year 2012; income received from Elite Intelligence and Protection Group, Ltd. during calendar years 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016; and income received from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General during calendar year 2017.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, a violation of Section 1105(b)(8) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(8), occurred in relation to Ralston’s failure to identify his office, directorship or employment in any business, namely his employment as a Professional Security Consultant, for calendar years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
3. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Ralston is directed to make a payment in the amount of $1,500.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
4. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Ralston is directed to make an additional payment of $1,000.00, representing a portion of the costs incurred by the Commission in the investigation and enforcement of this matter, which shall be made payable to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission and forwarded to this Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Ralston is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the OAG representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
6. To the extent he has not already done so, Ralston is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests with the OAG, through this Commission, for calendar years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
7. Compliance with Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Order will result in the closing of this case with no further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1771 (Crispell)
Director of Elections
Luzerne County Bureau of Elections
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. As the Director of Elections for Luzerne County (“County”), Pennsylvania, Marisa Crispell (“Crispell”) violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in relation to her participation in discussions and evaluations as part of a Request for Proposal process regarding the purchase of electronic poll books, including making recommendations to the County Council to enter into a purchase contract with Election Systems & Software (“ES&S”) at a time when she was serving on an ES&S Advisory Board and receiving transportation, lodging and/or hospitality from ES&S when she traveled to Advisory Board meetings and accompanying events and when she received payments from the County while she was traveling to Advisory Board meetings and events.
2. Crispell violated Sections 1104(a) and 1105(b)(7) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104(a) and 1105(b)(7), when she failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2014 and when she failed to list the name and address of the source and the amount of any payment for or reimbursement of actual expenses for transportation and lodging or hospitality received in connection with her position as Director of Elections when such expenses exceeded $650.00.
3. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Crispell is directed to make payment(s) of $3,500.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, such that Crispell shall pay $100 per month for a total of 35 months and shall make the first payment by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
4. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Crispell is directed to make additional payment(s) totaling $500.00--representing a portion of the costs incurred by the Commission in the investigation and enforcement of this matter--which shall be made payable to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, such that Crispell shall pay $50 per month for a total of 10 months and shall make the first payment by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Crispell is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the County representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
6. To the extent she has not already done so, Crispell is directed to file complete and accurate and amended Statements of Financial Interests with the County, through this Commission, for calendar years 2014 and 2017 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
7. Compliance with Paragraphs 3, 4, 5, and 6 of this Order will result in the closing of this case with no further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1772 (Greenlee)
Member of the Board of Directors
Bethlehem-Center School District
Washington County, PA 15333
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. John Greenlee (“Greenlee”), as a Member of the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Bethlehem-Center School District (“District”), Washington County, Pennsylvania, violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in relation to his participating in discussions and actions of the Board resulting in his nomination and subsequent appointment as the Board Treasurer.
2. A technical violation of Sections 1105(b)(1), (2), and (5) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1105(b)(1), (2), and (5), occurred when Greenlee filed a deficient calendar year 2015 Statement of Financial Interests by failing to respond to disclosure of address, governmental entity, and occupation, and by failing to list reportable income from the District.
3. No violation of Section 1105(b)(8) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(8), occurred in relation to the allegation that Greenlee neglected to report his office/directorship/employment in Greenlee Realty upon his Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 and 2017, in that he did not hold any reportable office/directorship/employment in Greenlee Realty during those years.
4. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Greenlee is directed to make payment in the amount of $1,950.00 payable to the Bethlehem-Center School District and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Greenlee is further directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the District representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
6. To the extent he has not already done so, Greenlee is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 with the District, through the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
7. Compliance with paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 of this Order will result in the closing of this case with no further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
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