Kids for Cash: ‘Show me the Money’
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There are new developments Tuesday night in the infamous ‘Kids for Cash’ case in Luzerne County as it appears the case, which began in 2009, is closed.
A pair of judges were indicted and then imprisoned for accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks in exchange for sending juveniles to two private detention centers in which they had a business interest.
The ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal has had so many twists and turns over the years. The latest involves a federal civil case involving the judges. Two years ago a federal judge awarded the hundreds of victims more than $200 million in damages from the judges.
Now it appears the victims will not see a dime. Victims told the I-Team they feel they will never see justice.
Civil hearings for ‘Kids for Cash’ scandal begin
Emotions exploded in 2011 outside the federal courthouse in Scranton. After former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella was convicted on corruption charges in connection with the “Kids for Cash” Scheme.
Fellow former judge Michael Conahan pleaded guilty in 2010 to one count of racketeering conspiracy for his role in a scheme in which they received some $2.8 million in exchange for sending juveniles to two private detention centers in which they had a business interest.
Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 and a half years in prison. Conahan was sentenced to 17 and a half years but was released in 2020 because of COVID-19 health concerns.
A federal civil lawsuit was filed against the judges in 2021 and after a weeks-long hearing in which nearly 300 hundred victims testified the judge awarded more than 200 million dollars in damages to the victims of the scandal.
But in recent days a federal judge allowed the law firm which handled the lawsuit to withdraw from the case…In court filings, the firm says after lengthy research the former judges have no assets. So for all intents and purposes, the case is closed.
Victims tell me it was never about the money. It has always been about justice.
“I just feel like it’s unacceptable. I don’t feel that it fair to give us no closure,” said Amanda Lorah Sanders, a “Kids for Cash” victim.
Amanda Lorah Sanders was only 13 years old when she was sent away for five years for a minor offense
“I feel like we’ve been failed so much over the years that I don’t think the closure is ever going to come,” added Sanders.
Her aunt says “Kids for Cash” still haunts victims.
” I don’t think it’s ever really closed to tell you the truth because of all the pain and suffering that goes on in this case and the children don’t have any justice,” explained Judy Lorah Fisher, Amanda’s aunt.
Again it’s not unusual for law firms to withdraw from cases. Especially when they can show the court there is no reason to continue on the case.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
