A federal judge has granted final approval of a $4.75 million settlement in several civil actions related to the Luzerne County “kids-for-cash” scandal.

The settlement in Wallace v. Powell is the third to be reached in the consolidated cases brought against several defendants by children (and their parents) who were sent to two juvenile detention facilities by judges who received kickbacks from a co-owner of those facilities. U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo of the Middle District of Pennsylvania approved Monday a $4.75 million settlement that resolves all claims against the co-owner, defendant Robert J. Powell, and his companies Vision Holdings and Powell Law Group. Of that settlement amount, more than $1.45 million will be paid toward attorney fees and costs, the judge ruled.

Powell, as co-owner of juvenile detention facilities PA Child Care and Western PA Child Care, paid former Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan kickbacks in exchange for the judges sending juveniles to Powell's facilities over others. Conahan and Ciavarella are currently serving prison sentences and Powell, who pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme, is now free after spending 18 months in prison.