More staff changes at Pa attorney general’s office

Oct. 01--Pennsylvania Attorney General Bruce Beemer continues to shake up the agency by replacing top supervisors hired by his predecessor, Kathleen Kane, who was convicted in August of lying before a grand jury about the leak of classified investigative material.

On Thursday, Beemer promoted one long-time attorney to be his assistant and promoted three agents to supervise investigative units formerly led by Kane supporters, including one who testified against her in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Amy Zapp, a deputy attorney general since 1978, was named Beemer's senior executive counsel. Zapp primarily worked in the civil law division, where in 2005 she represented the state in a U.S. Supreme Court case involving a murderer who challenged his conviction by alleging his lawyer failed to properly present mitigating evidence.

Agent Anthony Sassano was named narcotics supervisor. Sassano, an agent since 1999, led the agency's investigation of convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky and also was a regional narcotics supervisor.

Agent Robert Drawbaugh was promoted to lead the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, which handles organized crime, public corruption, insurance fraud, environmental crimes, child exploitation crimes and Medicaid fraud.

Agent David Ellis was named head of the Special investigations Unit, which handles computer crimes, intelligence and surveillance. Ellis, a state agent since 1990, led the grand jury investigation of the 2002 Quecreek Mine collapse in Somerset County and also was the a regional narcotics supervisor in the state, among other duties.

"Dave, Tony, Bob and Amy are respected throughout the Office of Attorney General," Attorney General Beemer said. "They are all talented professionals who have long been assets to this office. I am confident they will continue to provide the leadership and integrity that have helped them earn the respect of their colleagues."

Ellis replaces David Peifer, who received a grant of immunity for testifying against Kane, in her August trial in Montgomery County Court.

Peifer retired Friday. The affidavit outlining felony and other charges against Kane described Peifer as one of her most trusted advisers who along with another agent snooped on grand jury emails and other computer records to see who was testifying about the records leak.

Peifer testified against Kane in the trial in which she was found guilty in early August. Patrick Reese, Kane's security chief and a driver, was charged with contempt of court for doing the same thing Peifer did.

Beemer, who also testified against Kane, his former boss, was appointed attorney general in late August. Within days, he terminated Reese, who is appealing his conviction. Beemer also terminated Kane's narcotics director and chief of staff Jonathan Duecker, who was accused in civil lawsuits of sexual harassment and unfair labor practices.

___

(c)2016 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)

Visit The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) at www.mcall.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.