2 admit pocketing Pa. school district premiums

READING, Pa. (AP) — Two cousins have admitted pocketing nearly $900,000 in insurance payments made by a half-dozen central Pennsylvania school districts.

The Reading Eagle reports Kevin and Robert Pickell were each sentenced Thursday to at least 300 days in prison for the thefts from six Berks County school districts.

Kevin Pickell, of Blue Bell, and Robert Pickell, of Collegeville, admitted pocketing $876,000 that was supposed to be paid to several insurers through a brokerage agreement.

The newspaper reported the Pickells used the money to cover business and personal expenses.

The Pickells say they’ve thus far paid back about $200,000.