Governor Corbett Appoints PA Inspector General Michael A. Sprow; K. Kenneth Brown II Named as Chief Counsel for the Inspector General

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced that the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General will be guided by two veteran prosecutors, bringing a wealth of skill and experience to an agency dedicated to investigating and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in state government programs.

Michael A. Sprow has been appointed as Inspector General and K. Kenneth Brown, II has been selected as Chief Counsel for the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Both men have been serving at OIG in acting capacities and will begin their new permanent duties immediately.

"Mike Sprow's experience handling complicated criminal matters, including high-profile public corruption investigations and child predator cases, has clearly demonstrated his commitment to protecting Pennsylvanians and makes him uniquely suited to be our next Inspector General," Corbett said.

"His entire career has been dedicated to protecting the public, including exemplary work with the Attorney General's Office and Dauphin County District Attorney's Office, and our citizens can rest assured that Mike brings that same commitment to his new position," Corbett said.

Prior to this appointment, Sprow served as Chief Counsel to the Inspector General since November 2012.  He began serving as Acting Inspector General on April 5, 2013. Before joining OIG, Sprow was a Senior Deputy Attorney General for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and before that was a Deputy District Attorney in Dauphin County.

Sprow is a graduate of the William and Mary School of Law and Gettysburg College. He also served as law clerk for Judge George P. Kazen in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Corbett expressed in the confidence in the General Counsel's selection of K. Kenneth Brown, II as Chief Counsel for OIG, where he will serve as the primary legal advisor to Inspector General Sprow.

"Ken Brown is one of a handful of prosecutors who have helped to change the face of state government in Pennsylvania, holding public officials accountable for abusing their official positions and misusing state resources," Corbett said. "I can think of no better attorney to serve as Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, lending his extensive legal skills to an agency committed to eradicating waste and fraud."

Brown joined the Office of Inspector General in February 2013 following five years with the Criminal Prosecutions Section of the Attorney General's Office. He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.

Brown is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and Juniata College and has served as an instructor and faculty for various training sessions and legal education courses.

Corbett was especially pleased that Sprow and Brown have both agreed to lend their skills to the Office of Inspector General, continuing a partnership that proved extremely effective in numerous corruption cases at the Office of Attorney General.

"Individually, Mike Sprow and Ken Brown are outstanding prosecutors and excellent legal minds. Together, they are an exceptional team and I am pleased that they are continuing to serve the commonwealth."

The Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General was created in 1987 to ensure that taxpayer monies are being spent appropriately and that the government is operating efficiently. The Office works to investigate and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct in the programs, operations, and contracting of executive agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction.  

The Inspector General is a cabinet-level official who is appointed by, and reports to, the Governor. Additional information is available on the official website for the Office of Inspector General, at: http://www.oig.state.pa.us

Media contact:
Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, Office of General Counsel, 717-346-4463

SOURCE Office of General Counsel