Robert J. Powell submitted this letter to U.S. District Judge Edwin M ...

Robert J. Powell submitted this letter to U.S. District Judge Edwin M. Kosik prior to sentencing Friday.Please accept this letter in anticipation of my sentencing on Nov. 4, 2011.Your Honor,I take full responsibility for my actions and my inactions. When I was told by former Judge Conahan andformer Judge Ciavarella they expected me to act as a conduit for them to receive illegal payments fromRobert Mericle, I knew instantly that was wrong. I had the responsibility to say so and not to assist themin any way, no matter what the consequences might have been from them if I did so. I knew better and Ilacked the courage to say no.Similarly, when the former judges made their demands for money, I had the responsibility to refusethem. Even though they were in positions of power and influence, I had the ultimate ability to do theright thing and say no. I was wrong for giving in and paying them and will forever bear the burden ofhaving done so. I was also wrong not to report this to the authorities right at that moment. I had theability to stop this travesty and I did not. In retrospect, I realize I was both scared and selfish and I willforever regret that decision.Eventually, I got the courage to say no and refused their demands. That was far too little and far toolate. By then the damage was done and so I stand before you today.I owe apologies to many people for what I have done. First I apologize to my family for the hell I haveput them through. I am truly blessed to have them and because of my errors in judgment, they havepaid and continue to pay a terrible price for those errors. I have uprooted them from their home, friendsand family in an effort to give them a fresh start. My wife is a private person who did nothing to deservethis and still has had to suffer unspeakable indignities. My children have lost friends and had to defendme. As a father, this broke my heart because I am the one who was supposed to defend my children, butinstead, I put them in a position where they were defending my actions. For this I can never apologize tothem adequately.It broke me and my wife’s heart when my daughter Olivia could no longer play or associate with herclosest friend because of me.No matter what was going on during this terrible and awful time, and no matter the personal attacks Iknew I would endure while attending, I never missed any of my kids’ school activities, games orpractices. My life revolves around my children and helping them become all they can be as people,students and athletes. I am proud to tell this Court, through all of this, my kids have excelled in theclassroom and on the athletic field and courts. If nothing else, for what they have been through my wifeand kids deserve to begin again to live a normal and productive life – not one marred by press reports,pictures of their house and all of the rest. They have paid the highest price for my transgressions – theloss of their innocence and dignity. If nothing else, I respectfully request that this Court give me theopportunity to finish the good work I have started.

Second, I apologize to my partners, my employees and my friends. I am truly sorry. They are allwonderful people who put their faith and trust in me to do the right thing. Because of what I did andtheir association with me, they too, like my wife and kids, were and are guilty by mere association. Someof the things they have had to and continue to endure because of me have humbled me beyondmeasure. They have lost their ability to work, to feed their families and other significant and permanentfinancial losses, much to their own and their family’s detriment. I let them down and will forever regretwhat I have done to them.Third, my sincere apologies to the clients I was so honored and privileged to represent. I worked fulltimewhile going to law school because being a trial lawyer was my dream. I zealously and steadfastlyrepresented many clients and successfully changed many of their lives in positive ways. These are thepeople who I let down. It is hard to imagine a more devastating feeling than the one I, my family andassociates felt on the day I voluntarily surrendered the law license I worked so hard to earn.To the Court, I apologize for the damage I caused. I know that people must depend on the integrity andhonesty of the system and I know that has been called into question because of this case. I respect andhonor our system of justice and it pains me terribly to know what the consequences of my actions havecaused.Last but not least, I apologize to the people of Luzerne County and ask for their forgiveness. They havehad to watch as this tragedy unfolded. I know full well the collective loss of dignity and honor it hascaused. I was born and raised here. As much as I miss my parents, I am comforted with the knowledgethat they were not here to endure this. I moved back to the area because of my family and formerfriends – to be close to them and because I thought it would be a wonderful place to raise my kids. Now,because of all this, the area that support(ed), led me though my childhood and my professional careerhas been tarnished forever. I feel the guilt of contributing to that every minute of every day. The peopleof Luzerne County did not deserve this long nightmare. For that I am truly sorry.I know this is standard protocol for people who come before this Honorable Court to present lettersfrom family, friends and clergy to tell Your Honor why they are worthy of your consideration. I have notdone that out of respect for this Court and the people from whom I could have solicited such letters. Myfamily, friends and colleagues, indeed even this Court, have suffered too much indignity already. I standalone prepared to accept my responsibility with my words and my actions, not theirs. My selfish actionscaused me to be in this place and the only way I could legally and morally atone for this was tocooperate. Though the decision to do so was difficult in that I knew it would cause me and my family tobe ostracized, I knew it was the right thing to do. Once that decision was made, I gave 100 percent ofmyself. The experience was frightening, humbling and difficult, but in the end I hope that the fulfillmentof my cooperative requirements has benefitted the justice system. Equally, my children now havereason to be proud of their father again.I have lost my ability to earn a livelihood, lost my home and have seen many of my relationships, bothpersonal and professional, destroyed by my actions. I have been the subject of much media attention.

Your Honor, I know there are those who would call for my incarceration. For the last five years, I feel asthough I have been imprisoned for life.I would not wish this on any human being. I have been punished in ways no one could imagine orconceive. I have been financially and professionally ruined. I will never be free from the regret, sorry andguilt I will carry with me every day for what I have done. There are no words that I command that canfully and finally express my sorrow.In closing, I would be remiss if I did not thank the Court, Mr. (Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon) Zubrod,Mr. (Assistant U.S. Attorney William) Houser, the agents and representatives of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation , the IRS, the Office of Probation and all the other departments involved for treating mewith dignity and respect throughout this ordeal. I was never mistreated, abused or taken advantage of inany way. I have great respect for the professional conduct of the government and can attest that I wastreated fairly.I completely respect this Court and I am prepared to accept your decision. I am confident your decisionwill be justThank you.Respectfully submitted,Robert J. Powell