PHILADELPHIA \u2013 Former Philadelphia District Attorney Rufus Seth Williams, who previously admitted that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars\u2019 worth of concealed bribes in exchange for his agreement to perform official acts, defrauded a nursing home and family friends of money earmarked for a family member\u2019s care, and used political action committee funds and official government vehicles for his personal benefit, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison.<\/p>\n
Williams, 50, of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond to Count One of a superseding indictment charging him with travel and use of interstate facilities to promote and facilitate bribery contrary to Pennsylvania law.<\/p>\n
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According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:<\/p>\n
From July 2010 through May 2015, Williams had an arrangement with Mohammad N. Ali (identified in the indictment as \u201cBusiness Owner #1\u201d) in which Williams, while serving as the Philadelphia District Attorney, accepted trips, money, and other things of value in exchange for performing and agreeing to perform official acts on behalf of Ali, including contacting a Philadelphia police official in order to pressure and advise the official to assist Ali with security screenings at the airport. Williams also agreed to assist with criminal charges brought by the Philadelphia District Attorney\u2019s Office against Ali\u2019s associate.<\/p>\n
From March 2012 through July 2015, Williams had an arrangement with Michael Weiss (identified in the superseding indictment as \u201cBusiness Owner #2\u201d) in which Williams accepted airline tickets, money, an automobile, and other things of value in exchange for performing and agreeing to perform official acts on behalf of Weiss, including appointing him as Special Advisor to the Philadelphia District Attorney\u2019s office in November 2012 and providing an official letter to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in order to influence a then-pending hearing to revoke or suspend Weiss\u2019 California liquor license. In July 2015, Williams also obtained a police accident report at Weiss\u2019 request.<\/p>\n
In addition, from February 2012 through November 2013, Williams diverted his mother\u2019s pension and Social Security payments to pay for his own personal expenses instead of applying them to his mother\u2019s nursing home costs, as was his obligation under agreements with the nursing home. After accepting $10,000 from his mother\u2019s friends intended to cover expenses for her nursing home care, Williams spent that money on his personal expenses as well.<\/p>\n
From August 2010 through August 2016, Williams also defrauded the \u201cThe Committee to Elect Seth Williams\u201d by using its funds for personal expenditures, including parties, birthday dinners, massages, and fitness classes. He concealed this fraud by providing false or incomplete reports to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to the City of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Lastly, Williams engaged in a scheme to use official vehicles \u2013 which were provided by the City of Philadelphia and a federal narcotics law enforcement program \u2013 for his personal benefit. Williams used the vehicles to transport himself, family members, friends and other non-employees on non-district attorney business, including personal trips outside of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn his position as Philadelphia\u2019s District Attorney, Williams abused the trust placed in him by the public and today\u2019s sentencing sends a clear message that such action will not be tolerated,\u201d said Acting IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Edward Wirth. “Today’s sentencing is a direct result of the excellent partnership IRS-CI, our fellow law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office have in combating violations of federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHomeland Security Investigations is pleased to have teamed with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable public officials who betray the trust of the community they are sworn to serve by engaging in criminal behavior,\u201d said Marlon V. Miller, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia. \u201cLet Mr. Williams\u2019 sentencing serve as a proof that HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice public officials who feel they are above the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to the prison term, Judge Diamond sentenced Williams to three years of supervised release. Judge Diamond also ordered Williams to pay forfeiture of $33,009 and restitution of $58,422.83.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PHILADELPHIA \u2013 Former Philadelphia District Attorney Rufus Seth Williams, who previously admitted that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars\u2019 worth of concealed bribes in exchange for his agreement to perform official acts, defrauded a nursing home and family friends of money earmarked for a family member\u2019s care, and used political action committee funds and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5409,"featured_media":113251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[54,37],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n