A former Pennsylvania district attorney and head detective for the DA’s office are facing charges for allegedly using their positions to retaliate against county politicians.
Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that a statewide grand jury has charged former Greene County DA David Russo, 47, and Chief Detective Zachary Sams, 40. Their charges include revenge for previous government actions, official oppression, and conspiracy. They also charged Russo with conflict of interest and misappropriation of entrusted assets.
On Wednesday morning, authorities detained the former District Attorney and released him on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Sams received a summons to appear in court.
This followed what AG Henry described as a “series of ongoing disputes” between Russo and other Greene County officials, as well as “actions Russo and Sams took, using the powers of their office, against their critics.”
Russo faces accusations throughout the lawsuit of retaliating against his “political enemies” and enhancing his chances of reelection.
“District Attorneys and their deputies serve a critical role in our criminal justice system to represent the interests of the state, seek justice for victims, and uphold the law in an equitable, unbiased manner,” Henry told the crowd. “They also have a serious responsibility to exercise discretion and wield the power of their authority within the confines of the law.”
The District Attorney’s office accused Russo of mismanaging the Victim Witness Coordinator (VWC) job. In April 2022, the District Attorney’s office accused Russo of calling a police chief and pressing charges filed against an accused attorney. The attorney had opposed Russo for DA in the 2019 election, which the Greene County Solicitor determined was a conflict of interest given Russo’s support for charges.
The grand jury’s inquiry also discovered that Russo and Sams reportedly utilized a search warrant to grab mass casualty emergency medical bleed-out kits (STB kits) from the Greene County 911 Center and redistributing them to a SWAT unit that the DA’s office was attempting to form.
The Attorney General’s website contains full details on the allegations against Russo and Sams. Heather Serrano, Aaron McKendry, and James Price, Senior Deputy Attorney Generals, are prosecuting the case.
