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)
7/26/17, 9:03 AM 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.