Former Lakeland School District Transportation Director Sentenced to Prison

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania
May 30, 2012

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the former director of transportation for the Lakeland School District was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edwin M. Kosik to five months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to obtain by fraud federal program funds in connection with school district transportation contracts he recommended during 2006 through 2009.

According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, John Wansacz, Jr., age 42, of Greenfield Township, previously admitted to using his official position to steer school district transportation contracts to a company in which he had a financial interest and from which he received payments in excess of $70,000 during a three-year time period.

Wansacz was charged in an information filed by the United States Attorney on July 27, 2011. The charge resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Judge Kosik also ordered Wansacz to serve two years on supervised release after his prison stay and to serve the first five months of supervised release on home confinement. Wansacz must also pay a $3,000 fine and a $100 special assessment and perform 50 hours of community service.

Judge Kosik ordered Wansacz to surrender to an institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons on June 13, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa.