Pa. Cyber Founder Sentenced To 20 Months In Tax Conspiracy Case

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The founder of Pa. Cyber Charter School has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to tax conspiracy.

Nick Trombetta, 63, of East Liverpool, Ohio, appeared in court for sentencing on Tuesday. He was also ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution.

PA Cyber founder Nick Trombetta sentenced to 20 months in prison. Says he's "deeply remorseful" ... Hopes it won't be his legacy. #PACYBER

— Andy Sheehan (@AndySheehankdka) July 24, 2018

Trombetta was indicted almost five years ago. He pleaded guilty to tax conspiracy almost two years ago, acknowledging that he siphoned off some $8 million from The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School.

He acknowledged having used the money to buy, among other things, a $933,000 Florida condominium and $180,000 for houses for his mother and girlfriend in Ohio.

In founding Pa. Cyber, Trombetta created the largest and most successful cyber school in the state. It was so successful it spawned a string of related companies, which derived their income from the cyber school.

KDKA's reports were the first to question who that money was being funneled to; and in indicting Trombetta, the feds said much of it went into his own pocket.

A corporate jet, a Florida condominium, sprawling real estate amounting to $8 million in cash were just some of the excesses Trombetta is accused of lavishing on himself, his sister and his girlfriend.

Trombetta was indicted in 2013 and was facing 11 counts of mail fraud, theft or bribery, conspiracy and tax offenses related to his involvement in entities that did business with Pa. Cyber.

A former accountant, 62-year-old Neal Prence, was sentenced earlier this month to a year and a day.

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