Michael Conahan

Who is Michael Conahan?

Michael T. Conahan is a convicted felon and former judge from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania who committed the "Kids for cash" scandal in 2008 with fellow judge Mark Ciavarella.

Conahan, as president judge, used his budgetary discretion to stop funding the county public youth detention facility and agreed to send teens instead to a new private facility. He is accused of agreeing to generate at least $1.3 million per year in costs that could be billed to taxpayers in exchange for kickbacks. He originally pleaded guilty to charges, but later withdrew his plea. Afterward, he was indicted along with Ciavarella on charges of money laundering, fraud and racketeering. He eventually plead guilty again, and on September 23, 2011, he was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and ordered to pay $874,000 in restitution.