Former AIde To U.S. Senator Charged With Fraud, Racketeering

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA - The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has charged a government lobbyist and onetime aide to former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum with racketeering activity and defrauding clients.

Joseph Kuklis of Upper St. Clair is charged with one count of running a corrupt organization, four counts of theft by deception, six counts of forgery and six counts of fraudulent business practices, WTAE-TV reported. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Kuklis is the CEO of Wellington Strategies of Station Square, which provides a variety of government affiars consulting services, including traditional lobbying, grassroots lobbying and public affairs lobbying.

WTAE reported that Kuklis allegedly falsely told various clients that he had obtained state grants for them and forged documents to support the false claims.