Here are a few morning news items from across the region for Friday, April 4, 2025:
Pittsburgh snow removal CEO convicted of fraud
The owner of a Pittsburgh-based snow and ice removal company was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering in federal court.
Federal prosecutors said Thursday jurors deliberated for a day before finding Charles W. Lantzman, 51, of Pittsburgh guilty of defrauding customers of Snow and Ice Management Co. of Pennsylvania. Evidence presented at trial showed that Lantzman billed customers for services that the company didn’t perform.
Three mortgage payments on his Mt. Washington mansion were made with proceeds from the fraudulent billings, prosecutors said.
Lantzman is scheduled for sentencing in Pittsburgh federal court Aug. 11 on five counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. He was indicted in late 2023.
Lantzman is listed as the president and chief executive officer of the company, according to its website.
The Bailey Avenue mansion, known as “Mt. Mansion,” is 12,000-square-feet house built in 2004 with a view of Pittsburgh. He bought it in January 2017 for about $2 million, according to Trib archives.
Flood watch issued in 5 Western Pa. counties
A flood watch is in effect until Sunday morning after parts of the region saw between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain from late Thursday to early Friday, according to the National Weather Service in Moon.
The flood watch includes Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.
Parts of Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties saw the bulk of the heavy rain overnight, the service said. An additional 2 inches of rain could fall through the weekend, said Colton Milcarek, meteorologist at the weather service.
McKeesport standoff ends
A standoff in McKeesport late Thursday ended around 2 a.m. Friday, according to Trib news partner WTAE.
The news outlet reported a heavy police presence on Milburn Street. Police had not released any information.
Fire damages Greenfield restaurant
A fire damaged a restaurant early Friday morning in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood, according to WTAE.
Firefighters responded to Gold Ladle Asian Cuisine on Murray Avenue around 12:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.