HARRISBURG — A former Pennsylvania state treasurer is accused of concealing more than half a million dollars in consulting fees.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that a federal grand jury indicted Barbara Hafer, 72, of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
Hafer was charged Wednesday with lying to federal agents about a series of monthly payments to her consulting firm equaling more than $500,000.
Investigators interviewed Hafer as part of an investigation into alleged “pay-to-play” activities involving the Pennsylvania government.
During the interview, investigators allege Hafer concealed a financial relationship with an unnamed business person. According to the indictment, that business person was connected to multiple businesses that provided services to the Pennsylvania Treasury while Hafer was treasurer.
Investigators said a firm connected with the business person began making payments to Hafer’s consulting firm in February 2005, weeks after Hafer left office. The payments were for $41,667 every month for a year.
Hafer served two terms as Pennsylvania’s elected state treasurer from 1997 to 2005 and two terms as state auditor general from 1989 to 1997.
