A former Luzerne County commissioner who has been serving time in a federal prison for taking a bribe is now in a halfway house, according to the Federal Bureau of Prison.
Greg Skrepenak was released from prison early and is serving the rest of his term on home confinement.
Former Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak left the law offices of Fellerman and Ciarimboli in Kingston at 5 p.m. and was taken home by his mother.
Thursday the Federal Bureau of Prisons ordered Skrepenak to a halfway house rather than his home but no reason was given.
A spokesperson with the bureau said Skrepenak was released from prison early and is serving the remainder of his term at home. He works at the office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and cannot leave the building during that time.
“He’s been released from prison. He basically needs a job to carry him through the next six weeks and we feel the decision we made is correct,” said attorney Greg Fellerman. “He needs this opportunity to get back to become a productive member of society.”
Attorneys Greg Fellerman and Edward Ciarimboli stand by their decision to hire their long-time friend.
Skrepenak was sentenced in August, 2010 to two years in federal prison for taking a $5,000 bribe from a developer while he was county commissioner.
Fellerman and Ciarimboli said Skrepenak was released early for good behavior.
The attorneys said under the terms of his release, Skrepenak cannot talk with the media, but they could on his behalf.
“He talks about the crimes he committed and he talks about what he did wrong and he’s not somebody that’s running from that or shying from that,” said Ciarimboli. “He knows that he made very, very bad decisions.”
Skrepenak was among more than 30 people caught up in the federal corruption investigation, many of whom were elected officials.
On the street, the anger is still there.
“I think it’s absolutely terrible what they get away with this day and age,” said Gary Warner of Edwardsville. “I just think they get away too easy to be honest with you.”
Still others said they are ready to forgive and move on.
“He served some time, he got embarrassed and everything, I think it’s enough time,” said Susan Moore of Nanticoke.
Skrepenak’s sentence officially ends on June 12.