Ray Musto

Raphael John Musto, usually known as Ray Musto (March 30, 1929 – April 24, 2014) had been a Democratic politician, and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. He later served in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1982 until his retirement in 2010.

Musto was a lifelong resident of Pittston, near Wilkes-Barre. He served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He graduated from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre in 1971.

When his father, longtime State Representative James Musto, died in 1971, the younger Musto won a special election to fill his seat. He was elected to a full term in 1972 and was reelected three times.

In 1980, longtime Congressman Dan Flood, who had represented Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district for most of the time since 1945, resigned after being censured for bribery. Musto won a four-way special election for the remainder of Flood's term. He ran for a full term later that year, but was narrowly defeated by Republican challenger James Nelligan, whom Musto had defeated in the special election.

Musto was elected to the state Senate in 1982 and was reelected six times, representing a district consisting of Wilkes-Barre and portions of the Poconos. He did not seek re-election in 2010, choosing instead to retire at the end of his term.

On November 23, 2010, a federal grand jury issued a six-count indictment against Musto, charging him with accepting more than $28,000 from an unnamed company and individual in exchange for his help in obtaining grants and funding. Musto was also charged with accepting $3,000 from another unnamed individual in a separate incident. Musto has denied any wrongdoing. The criminal case against him was dismissed on April 30, 2014 by Federal Judge A. Richard Caputo.

Musto was released from the Federal Medical Center in April 2014 and died at his home in Pittston on April 24. He had been treated for cancer.