Mitchell Rubin is a former chair of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Mitchell Rubin
Occupation(s)Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, chair[1]
CGR Gaming Associates, Principal[2] B&R Services for Professionals, Principal[3]
Known forand founder of the National Association of Professional Process Servers [4]
SpouseRuth Arnao

He was named to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in 1998.[1] He was elected chair of the Turnpike Commission in 2003.[1]

In 2006, Rubin's firm, CGR Gaming Associates, received a slot machine suppliers and distributor license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.[2] This action was criticized by members of the Pennsylvania Senate, with Senate Majority Whip Jeff Piccola saying "Mr. Rubin's position as a public official certainly raises a lot of questions."[5] Other senators expressed concerns that Rubin's wife, Ruth Arnao, is a former staff member for State Senator Vince Fumo, who wrote the slots legislation.[5] At the time Rubin's firm received the license, both Arnao and Rubin were under a federal corruption investigation by the Philadelphia-based United States Attorney.[5]

In filings submitted by the United States Attorney during Vince Fumo's corruption trial, Rubin was named as one of Fumo's "ghost employees," saying that he was paid $30,000 annually for five years in exchange for no work.[6] Moments after Arnao and Fumo's conviction on all 139 counts, an FBI agent handed a Rubin a target letter informing him that he was under investigation and that "substantial evidence" was present that linked him to a federal crime.[7] Rubin then took an unpaid leave from the Turnpike Commission while Ed Rendell reviewed trial transcripts.[8] The next day, Rendell fired Rubin from the Turnpike Commission, saying that "It is inappropriate for you to remain as a commissioner."[9][10][11] Rubin was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of commercial bribery and sentenced to 24 months probation, 100 hours of community service and fined.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "MITCHELL RUBIN ELECTED CHAIR OF TURNPIKE COMMISSION" (Press release). Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. February 4, 2003. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Barnes, Tom (July 21, 2006). "Roddey's firm gets license to sell slot machines to casinos". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. ^ "Corporation Search". Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-02-26.
  4. ^ http://www.pstrade.us/protected/blum/rubin/foundingmembersofnapps.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ a b c Barnes, Tom (August 4, 2006). "Republicans want attorney general in on slots licensing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  6. ^ "Toll on integrity: The turnpike chairman owes the public an answer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 22, 2008.
  7. ^ McCoy, Craig R.; Emilie Lounsberry (March 20, 2009). "Turnpike head could face charges". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  8. ^ Cattabiani, Mario F. (March 23, 2009). "Turnpike chair steps aside". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  9. ^ Barnes, Tom (March 23, 2009). "Rendell removes Turnpike chairman with ties to Fumo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  10. ^ Barnes, Tom (March 24, 2009). "Rendell fires turnpike chief". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  11. ^ "PA Governor Rendell's Office Releases Letter to Mitchell Rubin" (Press release). Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania. Mar 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013.
  12. ^ Bumsted, Brad (November 13, 2014). "x-Turnpike chairman pleads to commercial bribery, gets probation, fine". archive.triblive.com.