We know more details today about the fraud case federal prosecutors have against the former head of the Northeast Intermediate Unit #19 Fred Rosetti.
The information is in response to Rosetti's request to get back property and assets the government seized when he was charged with using the NEIU's public money and manpower for his own personal use.
Rosetti was supposed to run an agency to help school districts in Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties educate students with special needs.
In court papers, prosecutors accuse Fred Rosetti of exploiting NEIU #19 for his own needs.
While Rosetti is asking a federal judge to return money and property seized in February, federal investigators counter that for 12 years, Rosetti ran, "A scheme in which he fraudulently converted funds and property of (NEIU) for his own personal benefit and the benefit of his family."
Among the details in the filings:
Prosecutors claim Rosetti ordered NEIU staffers to work on his Archbald home on taxpayer time.
According to court papers that work included snow removal, landscaping, swimming pool maintenance, building decks, sheds and sidewalks, lighting and plumbing, moving Rosetti's daughter's furniture.
In one instance, prosecutors claim an employee, "...spent the better part of an NEIU work day waiting at his (Rosetti's) residence for a cable television man to arrive while he (Rosetti) and his wife kept an important date, on the golf course."
Prosecutors also said Rosetti used NEIU to pay for UPS packages for wedding, birthday and holiday gifts, vacation, personal and sick leave that he never documented and false travel vouchers.
In the paperwork, prosecutors claim "...NEIU employees did what the defendant (Rosetti) ordered them to do," and "were threatened with....the loss of their job if they offered resistance. "
Fred Rosetti's attorney's claimed all his money and property was earned from his work. He pleaded not guilty and his trial is scheduled to start in November.