◆ SpookStack

EA Y (LIV, yoo, Murtha ties questioned By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — Rep. John Murtha steered millions of dol- lars in defense work to a cam- paign donor and the Pentagon went along with it, even though two. convicted drug dealers had been deeply involved with the company. Records filed in U.S. District , Court in Pittsburgh starting in ' 2005 raise questions about whether the government ever checked into the background of William Kuchera, of Windber, a constituent who has been doing government work for 20 years. The records point to the politi- cal peril of Murtha, D-Johnstown, and other members of Congress directing federal funds to particu- lar contractors, an oft-criticized process known as earmarking that has directed hundreds of bil- lions of dollars in the federal Cr: “nued on Page 4 ; Aodicus pags, names of howupep er city ad stern} 4 HE [NOIANA Ca LETTE ndwaa f Dur OG joc [2604 Editi U4 bé b7C Titles oentld Verinsy O¢stEas lsc. FAG. 000 ‘ Character or Clatifcenon: YCA- PG - #2123 Subremop Office; Indesing; -Murtha’s ties to company owned by Continued from Page t | budget to favored contractors and programs over the past two decades. The companies owned by . William Kuchera and his broth- ef Ronald — Kuchera Defense Systems aind Kuchera Industries Inc. — have received $53 mil- lion in federal contracts in this decade alone. According to the court records, William Kuchera was convicted of marijuana distri- bution in 1982 in Wisconsin. In addition, a man who de- scribes himself as an early part- ner in Kuchera’s business in the 1980s is a convicted cocaine | dealer who has served two | terms in prison, according to the records. The man, Peter Whorley, sued ; the Kuchera companies and | William Kuchera for a share of , the money the companies have ‘ callected in federal contracts. ' Whorley lost the case when it ' went to arbitration. On Friday, Kuchera’s lawyer said that his client had served nine months in prison and. since that time “has built two highly successful and reputable. companies with enviable records of quality, first-rate work.” ~ In April, the Navy suspended Kuchera . Defense’ Systems, William Kuchera and his broth- er for “alleged fraud,” including “multiple incidents” of incor- rect charges, along with allega- tions of defective pricing and ethical violations. Kuchera is appealing the suspension. In 2007 and 2008, Murtha sponsored $14.7 million in de- fense earmarks for Kuchera De- fense Systems. Before 2007, Congress did not disclose the identities of ear- mark sponsors, so it is impossi- ble to say how much in ear- marked funds Murtha directed to the Kuchera family business. In one early link to Murtha, Kuchera made a $1,000 cam- paign contribution to the con- gressman in March 1992. Kuchera and his uncle started doing business in the mid- | | 1980s and Murtha became chairman of the House Appro- priations defense subcommit- tee in 1989. os According to the ..court records,...in.. 1985: > Viliam, Kuchera approached. his uncle, Michael, who was just -starting, up Kuchera Industries... William Kuchera “confided to me that he had just spent time in prison and he was_looking for a fresh start,” Michael Kuchera said in an affidavit filed in fed- eral court in 2005. a “After I agreed to go into busi- ness with my nephew, he intro- duced Peter Whorley to me,” Michael Kuchera’s affidavit states. “One day shortly after I had met Mr. Whorley, Bill told me that Peter had agreed to in- vest in the business.” Under questioning in the law- suit, Whorley said that he had invested $50,000 in the Kucheras’ new business. Before that, Whorley said, he had been in prison for drug trafficking. Answering questions in the law- suit, William Kuchera said that article is ratainad to: convicted drug dealer questioned the $50,000 from Whorley. was:a personal.loan that “helped:-for . my living expenses,.it helped with. marketing: -expenses,.- it helped with sales expenses.” sWhorley,,said,,ihat...be.and William Kychera,awerescbest — Sriends andythat, they had been involved in “drug dealings.” 5. .- In... the ‘ statement: Friday, Kuchera's lawyer: pointed: -to findings.by: the federal. court: in the lawsuit rejecting Whorley’s claims in. their entirety. The court split the costs of the case, ordering Whorley to pay one-third and the Kuchera de- fendants to, pay two-thirds. “William: Kuchera has -built two highly successful and -rep- utable companies with enviable records. of quality, -first-rate - work,” said Kuchera attorney Dennis McGlynn:., ©; “In doing so, he has also creat- ed 360 new jobs in the John- stown area. He should be ap- plauded for his accomplish- ments and not denigrated for a crime he committed almost ‘three decades ago.” shew that this case has gained public notoriety: 9 show what information - if any - has been released congéming this case: provide a basis from which to measure possible future public comment, O other — A i