ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA. 2 deputies surrender to face federal counts

One of the defendants worked for the sheriff's office for 28 years.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Two Allegheny County Sheriff's deputies turned themselves in Wednesday on federal charges of lying to a grand jury investigating coercive campaign fund-raising practices.
Longtime deputies Richard A. Stewart Jr. and Frank Schiralli were named in separate indictments unsealed Wednesday.
The grand jury has been investigating since January whether employees were coerced to buy campaign fund-raising tickets for Sheriff Pete DeFazio; whether they faced retaliation if they didn't; and whether any of that money went to anyone who didn't pay federal income taxes on it, said U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.
Charges against the two
Stewart is accused of falsely telling the grand jury on March 3 and again on March 31 that he didn't pressure people to buy tickets to fund-raising events and that he doesn't know of any retaliation for not buying them.
Schiralli was charged for telling the grand jury on Jan. 26 that he didn't pressure people to participate in DeFazio's fund-raisers and for saying he didn't keep a list of those who contributed. Stewart acknowledged keeping such a list, according to his indictment.
"We're just kind of floored that he was charged," Schiralli's attorney, Robert Stewart, said. "We want the trial to come as quickly as possible,"
Joseph Williams, attorney for Richard Stewart, said he hadn't reviewed the indictment against his client and was in the process of trying to understand the charges.
Buchanan refused to say whether DeFazio is targeted in the probe or confirm what kind of retaliation deputy sheriff's allegedly faced.
"Retaliation in an employment setting can be wide-ranging from duty assignments to other employment issues," including pay cuts, Buchanan said.
Unusual move
She said it was unusual for charges to be filed during an active investigation, but it was necessary in this case because the alleged lies were "blatant." Buchanan wouldn't say what other evidence makes her believe Richard Stewart and Schiralli lied.
"It is certainly our hope that these indictments will serve as a reminder to future witnesses at grand jury proceedings ... that they are required to tell the truth," Buchanan said.
Michael Mullen, DeFazio's executive assistant, said the sheriff would not comment. The two deputies were both suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, Mullen said.
Mullen refused to respond to specific aspects of the investigation, except to say that, to his knowledge, campaign cash never became undeclared income for sheriff's employees.
"I kept the records for the campaign and all the money I got I can account for. What other people did, I can't say. But there's wasn't a bag of money. There was a couple hundred dollars here or there, and it's all accounted for," Mullen said. "There wasn't thousands of dollars coming in the back door, or if there was, I didn't see it -- and I'm here every day."
Schiralli, 52, of McKees Rocks, has worked with the sheriff's office for 28 years.
Williams said Stewart, 57, of Penn Hills, has worked there most of his adult life, but didn't know how long.
Mullen said their tenure was the primary reason the men will be paid during their suspensions.
Schiralli is charged with two counts of making false statements and Stewart with four counts. The two were freed after appearing before a federal magistrate Wednesday.
Each count carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.