Brian J. Preski, a Bustleton resident and onetime chief of staff to former Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel, pleaded guilty last week during his trial on corruption charges.
Preski, 46, a lawyer who served as Perzel’s chief of staff from 2000–07, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft on Oct. 5 in a Dauphin County courtroom.
Then-Attorney General Tom Corbett announced charges against Perzel, Preski and eight others in November 2009, following a grand jury investigation. In all, seven of the 10 co-defendants have pleaded guilty, including Perzel.
Preski was being tried with former state Rep. Brett Feese and the ex-Lycoming County lawmaker’s aide, Jill Seaman.
A former Perzel aide, John Zimmerman, will be tried separately.
Perzel and the others were charged with using about $10 million in public money for campaign purposes.
The seven individuals who have pleaded guilty remain free and will be sentenced after the remaining two trials are complete. ••
