PGCB�s Director of the Bureau of Investigations And Enforcement Announces Retirement

HARRISBURG: David Kwait, the Director of the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement (BIE) of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that he will retire, effective December 5, 2008. Kwait has served as the first director of the BIE since July 2005.

“Directing the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement has been challenging, exciting and, candidly, at times difficult. But, throughout my tenure as the Director, I’ve constantly been surrounded by hardworking professionals of the highest caliber,” Kwait said. “It has been an honor to work with them.”

In his letter of resignation to the Board, Kwait wrote that he truly anticipates that when the collective history of the startup of the PGCB is considered, it will be recognized for the significant effort put forth in successfully launching a new industry in Pennsylvania.

“I will always be proud of my association with the Gaming Control Board,” he states, “There is tremendous satisfaction that comes with knowing I helped to build an agency from the ground up and created an Investigative and Enforcement unit that is second to none.”

Under his watch, BIE grew to a unit of more than 70 employees, many of those recruited possessing backgrounds with the FBI, major city or regional police departments, and other law enforcement units. During that time, BIE conducted more than 19,000 investigations on individuals or corporate entities.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins said Kwait’s decision to bring his distinguished background to a start up agency was an essential element in moving casino licensing forward swiftly and legally.

“David’s law enforcement background helped define our strategic priorities and was essential as we built a system to not only protect the public’s interests and instill integrity into Pennsylvania’s new gaming industry, but to manage a tremendous volume of investigations required to move the Gaming Act from a law into reality,” she said.

Kwait is a 40-year veteran of the federal and state law-enforcement communities. Prior to joining the Board, he served as Chief of Criminal Investigations for the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. He also served as an FBI agent for 30 years.

Kwait earned a bachelor’s degree in French from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1964 and did post-graduate work at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., in 1965 before joining the FBI. From 1966 to 1996 he served in New Orleans, Chicago, Washington and Pittsburgh, where he was supervisory special agent from 1990-96.

In 1996-97, Kwait was manager of the Office of Municipal Investigations in the City of Pittsburgh. He joined the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office in 1997, serving as Executive Manager of the Office of Criminal Investigation until Attorney General Jerry Pappert left office in January 2005.

Kwait and his wife, Diana, live in Hummelstown and have five grown children.

The Board plans to explore a full range of options to maintain a high level of service while it considers Kwait’s successor.

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