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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, August 03, 2017

Fed Ed Case Update: Are Four More Indictments Expected?

More Indictments? - When Morning Call reporter Emily Opilo reported on the indictment of Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski, she tweeted that nine sealed indictments had been filed, adding that "some may not be Allentown-related."
Emily Opilo (@emilyopilo)
By the end of the day yesterday, there were 9 sealed cases filed in our district of federal court. Again, some may not be Allentown-related.
In addition to her tweet, federal prosecutors initially indicated they would conduct news conferences on both Wednesday and Thursday. That Wednesday news conference happened, but nothing more was said about a separate news conference on Thursday.  These two factors have led some to infer that four more indictments are pending. More indictments are certainly possible, but we'll have to see.

Allinson's firm bio - In an email to "old friends," three people who had their claws in Northampton County government, Scott Allinson said his firm would stand behind him. His firm bio was gone from the firm web page the day after his indictment was published. That may be the result of remarks he is quoted making about other attorneys in that firm, disparaging their integrity.

Thanks to Google cache, I was able to retrieve Allinson's firm profile, in which he basically claims to be the solicitor to every municipality in the Lehigh Valley.

But he may have been puffing. According to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, which called me last week, Allinson is not their lawyer. They know better who represents them than I do. Nor does he represent the NorCo IDA, they tell me. I believe he did.

How much time does Fed Ed face? - As explained in the US Attorney's news release,

"The charge of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, honest services mail fraud, honest services wire fraud, and attempted Hobbs Act all carry an individual maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the charges of conspiracy, travel act bribery and making material false statements all carry an individual maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine."

Doing the math, means a maximum sentence of 775 years. Is that likely? No. But he is looking at double digits, and was warned.

It's a Fleckin' mess! -  The common denominator in both the Allentown and Reading pay-to-play prosecutions is Mike(d) Fleck. Long before his association with Fed Ed, he had the reputation of fleecing candidates.He tiffed state house candidate Archie Follweiler for $21,000 in 2007. I was told Fleck matured. I agree. He matured into a full-fledged thief.

But a likable one with a good singing voice.

The best Fleck story ever - "You won't Fleckin' believe this!" - was penned by Express Times Editor Jim Deegan. Fleck had plastered Easton with all kinds of signs when he ran against Mayor Panto in 2007, and lost. After the election, he was slow to clean up and was rightly taken to task. Fleck eventually did so and pledged to buy Deegan lunch if he found more than three or four signs.

The Palmer Tp police found hundreds. Fleck apparently threw them in a dumpster at the local Autozone, along with hundreds of copies of his newspaper, The Easton Irregular, and for some strange reason, a jockstrap.

Fleck was charged with theft of services, but beat the rap.

When Fed Ed hooked up with Fleck, he knew exactly what was happening.

A lounge singer.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dream on O'Hare. The Feds have a weak case against Pawlowski, so they hit him with a scatter gun approach to charges. They know most of the charges will be dismissed. Pawlowski may get a few years and probation. Your wet dream of decades in prison will never happen.

Anonymous said...

In the lounge National King Cole style...

L...is for the Legal trouble he's in
O...is for the Outstanding indictments of sin
V...is for the Verdict that will be
E...is for Election we hope will set us free.

L-O-V-E is Allentown, together you and Me.

Anonymous said...

you really think that Fleck has a good singing voice???????Methinks Flick the Fleck has conned yet another person!

Anonymous said...

Well lets see: The witnesses in the "Fed Ed" case stands at 26. 9-co-conspirators, 9-material witnesses, 2-unindicted co-conspirators, representatives from 3-law firms, 2-companies and 1-PAC are all lined up for testimony. Four [4] more indictments would add four [4] or more witnesses to the tally. Of course, the Mayor's unbelievable denials, I don't know these people, they must have made a mistake, Fleck did it and he didn't take a dime defenses will not pass any scrutiny. He will not be addressing an uneducated, ill-informed electorate as in Allentown. He'll be convicted and sentenced to a erstwhile ten [10] or more years in prison, fines above $250,000, two children who will be adults when he gets out, and a wife starved for love. Our version of Rod Blagojevich who also proclaimed his innocence, took a jury trial and is now serving a 14-year prison term in federal prison.

Anonymous said...

That video made me laugh. Thanks.

X said...

Bernie, with all the yet unnamed variables and growing headcount, we would all think in the best interest of Allentown and possibly higher, fed Ed could be held in Lehighcounty prison until all is said and done?

Anonymous said...

I love to watch Ed and Lisa lie.
It's really quite remarkable.

Anonymous said...

@9:05

That's not the way the system works genius. Take your camera and go home and do with it whatever it is you do with it behind closed doors.

Anonymous said...

@3:39
You were one claiming Fed Ed wouldn't be indicted. How'd that prediction work out for you? Get yourself a new crystal ball if you don't see an image of toast in it when asking how Pawlowski will end up.

FRED said...

I've had the pleasure of dealing with Mike in relation to all of his parking ticket warrants he had amassed. I took every step I could to give him an opportunity to go into the court and take care of it on his own accord. He ignored me, failed to answer my calls, gave me excuses, yada yada...unfortunately we had to stake out his house one morning and catch him on the way out.

Not above the law Mike....

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2011/04/easton_city_councilman_michael.html

Fred Schoenberger
Constable

Anonymous said...

Hard to imagine what condition the Allentown Parking Authority was in with all the years Mr. Pawloski was in charge of it

Anonymous said...

Two independents filed to run for mayor. If their petitions are legit, does it help or hurt Pawlowski's chances for re-election?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Help.

Canary_In_Coalmine said...

Agree with Bernie, Fleck has a decent voice. Intonation, notsomuch.

Anonymous said...

Why has Fleck not been indicted? IS he the teflon Fleck?

Anonymous said...

Any word on Ray O'Connell's big announcement today?

K Mary said...

"It's a Fleckin' mess!"
~ My suggestion is to put this on bumper stickers and sell them. LOL

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:50, it is hard for me to make a mid-afternoon news conference.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:18, Fleck HAS been charged and has pleaded guilty. Where the hell have you been?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Redd, stop posting gibberish. PLEASE!

Jeffrey Anthony said...

@4:55 What's up with that? Is it some sort of code? It seems like the guy goes to some trouble to do it, I just can't figure why.

Anonymous said...

Lisa Pawlowski ( Allentown's First Lady )
ended homelessness in Allentown.
No, really.
LOL!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'd settle for anything in the neighborhood of a 50 year sentence.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, What are the chances of Judge Sanchez invoking the Speedy Trial Act? It would be nice to dissipate the black cloud hanging over Allentown before the election.

Anonymous said...

At our local barbershop, [1800 lock of Tilghman Street], Fed Ed is a 10-1 wager he'll plead guilty, right before trial, and he will receive a sentence under three years. Even better, the right wing politicos who visit this venerable site, proclaim that Judge Sanchez will not let him go with less than 15-years because of his arrogant and unremorseful demeanor. I personally hope he stands trial and he gets put away for a long, long, time! Mister "I didn't do anything wrong" will have a long time to contemplate his actions, motives and integrity in this matter.

Helene said...

Bernie, Scott Allinson does not represent Northampton County GPA. We removed him well over a year ago.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Yes, Helene. At last night's Council meeting,it was clarified that Allinson represents no county entities. His firm represents the Gaming Board and GPA.

Robert Trotner said...

Like

Anonymous said...

any news about the other 4 sealed indictments?

Anonymous said...

any news about the other four sealed indictments

Bernie O'Hare said...

So far as I know, there are no additional indictments. I believe one of the persons is an unindicted co-conspirator and will be testifying.