ADELPHIA BUILDING SALE PENDING

Sale of the former Adelphia Operations Center in downtown Coudersport could still go through in the coming days, if arrangements fall into place with the successful bidder from an internet-based auction.

A person close to the discussions said the buyer, who has not been identified, is attempting to close on the sale of the massive building on South Main Street for $3.6 million.

At this point, the buyer is described only as "an investor looking to re-sell the property at a profit," but no one at what's left of Adelphia will identify the potential buyer.

Meanwhile, a Massachusetts attorney charged with misappropriating almost $2 million from an Irish investor who sought to buy the building earlier this year appeared in federal court last week.

Raymond A. Desautels III of Oxford is accused of wire fraud for his role as an intermediary for Kevin Phelan of Hollywood, Ireland.

Desautels is accused of giving the money to Allen Seymour, also of Oxford, who allegedly needed it for a short time to convince potential lenders that he had net worth for an unrelated transaction.

When federal authorities apprehended Seymour at an airport in Florida, preparing to board a private plane to Venezuela, they found more than $1.3 million in cash in two bags.

Desautels is accused of disbursing checks totaling $1.94 million from Phelan's funds. Seymour has been charged with wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.