Pocono News Section

Bellas Sentenced

Bellas Sentenced - Monday, June 7, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday June 07 2010

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Allan Bellas was sentenced to 6 months home confinement, two years probation and a $10,000 fine for accepting a bribe in return for a contract within Luzerne County.

A judge said Bellas showed true remorse and since this was his first run-in with the law, he should not go to prison.

Bellas was sentenced in federal court in Scranton Monday. He admitted he took $2,000 from an un-named contractor who did business with the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority. Bellas admitted he helped that contractor get into a special financing program that allowed tax breaks.

Bellas said he, at first, refused the $2,000 reward, but then accepted it. Bellas broke down and cried as he apoligized to the people of Luzerne County, and his family and friends.

As part of his guilty plea, also had to resign his position as president of the Wyoming Valley West School Board. The federal investigation had nothing to do with the school district.