MOUNT CARMEL -- The owner of a large bus company in the Mount Carmel area is facing charges of fraud.
King Coal Tours is a popular bus company in the area and many people tell Newswatch 16 they've used its services.
When Newswatch 16 stopped by King Coal Tours, we found the bus company is still open and running bus tours.
We also learned Robert Else, the owner, is not in prison.
Some taxpayers are surprised to hear about the charges while others had a feeling something suspicious was going on.
It was business as usual at King Coal Tours near Kulpmont. Just by looking at the outside of the building, you'd never know the owner of the bus company was charged by the United States Attorney's office with wire fraud.
According to court papers, Robert Else carried out a plan to defraud PennDOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Mount Carmel overbilling them and wiring the money to his bank account.
According to the United States Attorney's office, the total amount of the fraud could be up to $400,000.
"It's surprising. King Coal is one of the big companies, I guess you could say, in Mount Carmel and it's been here for years," said Tammy Frasch.
Newswatch 16 spoke with taxpayers in Mount Carmel. Some people who took bus trips with the company find the charges hard to believe.
"They're wonderful people over there," said Erika Novotny. "We enjoyed going with them. They were very generous to our organizations."
Novotny knows Robert Else and was surprised to hear about the charges.
"He's a wonderful man. I mean, I couldn't believe it. I don't believe it until it's all said and done."
Many people in Mount Carmel said they're not surprised to hear about the accusations against Else.
"Anybody who knows any of the councilmen or whatever heard about it long ago," said resident Mike Kaleta.
Kaleta believes the U.S. Attorney's office was right to charge Else.
"It's the taxpayer's money and my wife is the tax collector here in Mount Carmel."
Newswatch 16 tried to reach Robert Else but employees said he was unavailable and his attorney did not return our call.