A Pennsylvania Superior Court judge has been indicted in federal court on mail fraud and money laundering counts.

Judge Michael Thomas Joyce, 58, of Erie, is charged with nine separate counts stemming from two insurance claims he filed related to an Aug. 10, 2001, car accident.

According to the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh, the accident occurred at a low speed, and neither medical nor law enforcement personnel were called to the scene. However, Judge Joyce subsequently sought damages from both State Farm Insurance, which held the other driver's policy, as well as his own company, Erie Insurance Group, for pain and suffering he sustained related to injuries he said he received in the accident.

The indictment contends that Judge Joyce falsely claimed that the accident had adverse effects on both his personal and professional life, including that it rendered him unable to golf, scuba dive or exercise. Further he said that it prevented him from pursuing higher judicial office.

According to the indictment, Mr. Joyce received two payments totaling $440,000 for his claims. Of that money $50,000 was to settle a bodily injury claim while the rest went to settle a claim under the underinsured motorist provision of his coverage.

But, prosecutors allege, during the same time period, Judge Joyce played multiple rounds of golf in Jamaica, Florida and New York; went scuba diving in Runaway Bay, Jamaica, and renewed his diving instructor certificate.

In addition, he went roller blading, exercised at a fitness club and applied for and received a private pilot's license, flying approximately 50 times.

As part of the information, the indictment alleges that Judge Joyce asserted that he had received the Republican endorsement and nomination for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2002, when he'd not received either.

After receiving one payment, Mr. Joyce used the funds to open an individual brokerage account, through which he purchased property in Millcreek Township, an interest in a 1978 Cessna 206 airplane, as well as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.