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.. ... ye... Kuchera haunted by '82 drug conviction BY RANDY GRIFFITH an issue for the Windber company's has no access to information that in February. Whor RGRIFFITH@TRIBDEM.COM government work. requires a clearance, McGlynn said. ley's claims were A 27-year-old drug conviction has "Twenty-seven years ago, William *Kuchera Defense Systems is not "denied in. their come back to haunt a local business- Kuchera spent nine months in prison precluded from participating in work entirety" following man and U.S. Rep. John Murtha. for dealing in marijuana," Johnstown which would require a security clear- binding arbitration But William Kuchera says the histo- attorney Dennis M. McGlynn said in a ance based on Mr. Kuchera's lack of hearings in federal ry should have no affect on Kuchera statement. "The judge who sentenced clearance," McGlynn said. court. Defense Systens' work for the federal him obviously hoped Mr. Kuchera Kuchera's past surfaced, in part, McGlynn's state- Kuchera government. would learn a lesson from this experi- because of a 2005 lawsuit by a convict- ment goes on to Court records show Kuchera was ence and'would therealter become a ed cocaine dealer who claimed he was outline the success of Kuchera's busi-. convicted of marijuana distribution in law-abiding and productive citizen. an early partner of Kuchera. 1982 in Wisconsin. "Mr. Kuchera has exceeded any rea- Peter Whorley claimed he is entitled nition as a leader in hiring disabled While several national media organi- sonable expectations the judge could to a portion of Kuchera's earnings workers, making up about 20 percent zations have questioned whether the have had." because he invested about $70,o00 in of its work force. government checked out Kuchera's Kuchera has never had a Defense the company's startup in 1985. background, his attorney says it is not. Department security clearance, and As The Tribune-Democrat reported Please see kuchera, A2 other - future public comment. Concarhing this case: This anicie is retained to: I show that this case has gained publlc notoriety: from Murtha. The companies . and funding through earmarks ries point'to Kuchera's success three dec. crime he committed almost. town ated'350 new jobs in the Johns- wrote. Continued trom A1 a. KUCHERA area: . "In doing so he.has cre. work, Indccing: :=g0 1awwqns .He. should Clatibabon: Duci O6 /0C /200 y JonnsTown, (lod iras puyga nzm o! for which he FAG. DSp KUcuera Vereuwse Irens, Inc. MeGlynn 4CA-PG- 771z3 be : ment's job. That's not my job.' Murtha is a target of any investu-. said that, they have not been receiving new Navy. contracts company was suspended from said steppe That's the Defense Depart Last Kuchera's offices were raid- rera 'CO week jan A1=AL we