Attorney General Michelle Henry announced charges against Kevin D. Kolb, the founder and operator of Sick Recovery, a Berks County-based nonprofit organization for men with substance abuse issues, which Kolb allegedly used as a source for free laborers. According to a collaborative investigation by the Office of Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police, and findings from the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, Kolb recruited participants for the live-in program under the guise of offering treatment and healthy recovery alternatives. In reality, according to the investigation, participants had to turn over their personal belongings, including identification, money and cell phones, and were not permitted to have any contact with their families. They worked construction jobs with no compensation and were not provided any reasonable means to voluntarily exit the program.
Kolb was charged Thursday with numerous offenses, including involuntary servitude, theft by unlawful taking, tax evasion, insurance fraud, and related offenses. He was arraigned and bail was set at $250,000 unsecured. Krista Kolb, Kevin’s wife, is charged with unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with public records, construction workplace misclassification, and insurance fraud. She was arraigned and bail was set at $25,000 unsecured. Scott Kolb, Kevin’s brother, is charged with construction workplace misclassification regarding work that was done for his construction company. He will be mailed a summons to appear in court.
