The U.S. Attorney’s office has moved to dismiss all charges against York County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven Stambaugh, 61, following his entry into a pretrial diversion agreement.
U.S. Attorney Brian Miller filed the request to dismiss the case with prejudice in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, meaning the government cannot re-file the charges.
Court records show Stambaugh entered the pretrial diversion agreement in November. Under this arrangement, he avoids a guilty plea or a trial but must adhere to specific conditions and refrain from criminal conduct.
Stambaugh was indicted last year on 26 counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of tampering with a witness, and one count of obstruction of justice. He had pleaded not guilty.
The charges against Judge Stambaugh originated from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor and the FBI.
It was alleged that while running his private firm, Stambaugh Law P.C., he directed employees to file for and collect unemployment compensation during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite them remaining employed.
The indictment also claimed that between 2021 and 2022, Stambaugh tried to intimidate a government witness and persuade them to provide false testimony to a federal grand jury and lie to federal law enforcement.
It further alleged that, while serving as a judge, he asked an employee from his law firm to meet with him before their grand jury testimony to ensure they were “on the same page.”
Stambaugh was suspended without pay from his position on the bench in October of last year.
