Crime & Safety

Ex-Easton School Official Spied on Colleagues, Police Say

Forks Township police said computers seized for analysis from Easton Area School District administration office and a home.

A former Easton Area School District official is under investigation for allegedly spying on his colleagues.

Forks Township police seized two computers used by Thomas Drago, the district's former director of technology Thomas Drago, police chief Greg Dorney said Monday.

Court records say Drago illegally accessed computers owned by Easton Area Superintendent Susan McGinley and other school employees.

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He also allegedly had photos of a female co-worker's breasts, court documents say. In addition, police say Drago made an unauthorized recording of a closed school board meeting.

Forks Township Police Chief Greg Dorney said in a statement Monday that his department issued warrants Friday for the seizure of one computer from the Easton Area School District Administration Building on Bushkill Drive and another from the residence of Drago, the district's former director of technology.

Find out what's happening in Palmer-Forkswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"With the guidance and direction of the (Northampton County) District Attorney’s Office, our agency with the assistance of the PA State Police, served two search warrants on Friday morning," Dorney said through an emailed statement.

The school board voted to approve Drago's resignation in December 2012. His last day was last Thursday.

Dorney said the search warrant was for the seizure of computers at each location and is pursuant to potential computer crimes having been committed.

"The investigation is in its infancy and it is not yet determined what crimes, if any have been committed or by whom," he said.

The computers are being submitted to the PA State Police crime lab for forensic analysis, the chief said.

Dorney said no more details were being released at this time.

Easton Area School Board member Frank Pintabone said Monday that he was aware of the investigation, and but confirmed that a warrant had been issued.

"I can't tell you what they're looking for," he said.


Pintabone referred other questions to District COO Michael Simonetta or Human Resources Director John Castrovinci, neither of whom were immediately available for comment.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Palmer-Forks