HARRISBURG, PA — Former Greene County District Attorney David Russo was convicted Friday of official oppression for abusing his authority to seize emergency bleeding-control kits from county ambulances, removing equipment intended for mass-casualty emergencies from active service.
A Fayette County senior judge returned the verdict following three days of testimony, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, which prosecuted the case.
Russo was found guilty of using his position as district attorney to direct the seizure of multiple “Stop the Bleed” kits from ambulances operating in Greene County.
The equipment, designed to help emergency responders control severe bleeding during mass-casualty incidents, was subsequently secured inside the District Attorney’s Office rather than returned to emergency service.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Russo directed a detective employed by his office to obtain a search warrant without valid probable cause to seize the kits.
The prosecution maintained that Russo misused his law enforcement authority to pursue personal disputes, leaving emergency responders without equipment intended for critical situations.
“This defendant took an oath to serve and protect citizens of Greene County as its highest-ranking law enforcement official, but instead abused that power to settle personal feuds,” Sunday said.
“By having these kits illegally seized, the defendant left emergency responders with fewer tools to help residents,” he added.
Russo is scheduled to be sentenced December 10. He remains free on bail pending sentencing.
Senior Deputy Attorneys General Heather Serrano and Aaron McKendry prosecuted the case.
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