Local Government TV

Thursday, August 17, 2017

USA Today: Feds Have 87% Conviction Rate in Local Political Corruption Cases

USA Today has a fascinating story on the federal investigation of political corruption. Though the story's focus is a federal investigation of political corruption in Tallahassee, it makes several observations that are directly relevant to the Fed Ed prosecution.

First, despite claims that the FBI's main focus is elsewhere, "Public corruption is the FBI’s chief criminal investigative priority and is something it does very well."

Second, when it comes to public corruption, its conviction rate is 87%.
"From 1996 to 2015, U.S. Attorney offices charged 5,411 local officials with public corruption crimes, earning 4,699 convictions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation in Tallahassee is one of roughly 5,000 the FBI launched from roughly 2012 to 2016 concerning allegations of public corruption, election crimes or government fraud."
Third, "Local governments are more vulnerable to corruption ... because there are fewer eyes watching. Payments typically don’t need to go through the same approval process required at the state and federal level."

Fourth, local pols are cheap dates. "Bribes can take the form of 'street currency' — dinners and sports tickets. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, prosecutors said all it took for Mayor Ed Pawlowski to dole out a city contract was a steak dinner, campaign contributions and tickets to a Philadelphia Eagles playoff game."

25 comments:

  1. We know you hate Pawlowski but this is irrelevant. It is all a case by case basis.

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  2. Can we wait for the trial before convicting Pawlowski?

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  3. 50+ counts we don't need a trial to know he's guilty. BO is just showing their record. Obviously he's going down

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  4. "Can we wait for the trial before convicting Pawlowski?"

    Legally, yes, of course. Politically, no.

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  5. The trial is going to be quite an affair.
    Ed's a fine piece of work.
    Of course he has Jesus on his side.
    I'm hoping I can host a house party for him before sentencing.

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  6. I'm in an office pool.
    I got $100 on 12 years.

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  7. Bernie, I am reading you first today, fed ed much like his irratants followers of church on the run are cheep dates. A McDonalds happy meal will be his greatest desire upon inturnment to camp FED and hopefully his types get sent to GITMO! There is a difference though the followers of the food banks are out trading cans gathered for substance in the dark of the night. Fed Ed is trading livlyhoods and selling souls to the demons he reely worships in the dark of the night, while in the light of the day!
    We were told at last nights meeting fed ed was doing a walk with in his original campaign managers quadrun. He is signing up agitators for his dates with federal destiny and I am very sure some of the same food bank solicitors will be at every date proclaiming his innocence!
    Humanist by Design

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  8. Bernie, great analogy. Since the trial will be held in Allentown, the great deceiver will have his political base protesting at the federal courthouse. Despite that, the jury of his peers, who will be shipped in from all points in the Eastern District, will find this arrogant POS guilty of most of the charges against him. The percentage will tic closer to 88%. He will be hauled off to federal intake while still delusionary of mind. His uninformed supporters, family and very few friends will be weeping, but the majority of us will be applauding and thanking "Fed Ed" for the political drama he committed.

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  9. Pawlowski will likely plea bargain down. He'll get a 1-2 year sentence and sleep in a minimum security facility for less than a year.

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  10. No he's lost that option by the way he's thumbed his nose at Feds. I'd agree 10-12 if he goes to trial. I'd say 6 if he pleads. Fleck is looking at about 4. Wiles and Strathearn will go to jail bc they were city employees. Koval will escape jail bc of her advanced age and she was little more than a secretary. McTish will go to jail bc of his past behavior with the turnpike commission. He should have known better. I think the remaining business types are looking at minimal sentences. They might give Haddad a medal.

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  11. Justice is only served if Lisa goes to jail also.
    She's a liar and a criminal who was involved with absolutely every detail.

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  12. So 13% of cases are political harassment? Be interesting to study those 13% to see if a pattern exist.

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  13. I agree with Bernie @ 10:00 am and I agree with 11:29 am on Ms. Lisa. She did all the financial paperwork for the campaign and signed all the buy-out checks [contributions to other pay to play candidates, such as Sheriff Killkinney] for her darling husband. She was also the co-recipient of the honest Mayor's man-cave built by Stellar construction for practically nothing. The self proclaimed Queen of the homeless is just as slimy as her slick husband. Too bad the FBI gave her a pass.

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  14. Bernie. Can you create a link that takes you to the actual article. When I open it I get the main page. mz.

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  15. Many of our elected officials have only held public office as an adult profession, or worse it's fhe highest paid job of their career. Fleck for instance held menial jobs at best prior to easton council and then onward and upward to brokering duffle bags full of cash for favors. Darth Voter managed "social media" as a job (the 2000s equivalent of a paper route or lawn mowing gigs held by an industrious teen).

    Point is, many (not all) of our electeds have no tangible skills outside of getting elected. They are woooed by the cash and prizes of corruption and are easy pickings for the DOJ. That's the good news.

    The bad news is that we the people keep electing these numbskulls who behave as though they are morally and intellectually superior to folks who have tangible skills (the skills that run the world around us).

    The problem with the whole FedEd affair is that so many who are as corrupt as he is being accused have skated. For now. It would be nice to know that Fleck gave up a treasure trove of bribers and bribe takers as welll.

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  16. Bernie how about allinson if he is found guilty? Will he go to jail. Btw Haddad Doesn't need a medal he sold the old western electric building last week for 32.5 million after buying it for 850k five years ago.

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  17. Because he is a lawyer who was connected to all kinds of public entities, I think a jail sentence is likely, especially since he has refused to acknowledge his guilt.

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  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  19. Redd, if you can't write coherently, don't post.

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  20. I believe the fed's conviction rate generally is about 90%, so 87% for public corruption would be consistent.

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  21. "Pawlowski will likely plea bargain down. He'll get a 1-2 year sentence and sleep in a minimum security facility for less than a year."

    You don't understand how federal sentencing works, so you shouldn't opine on it. With a 2 year sentence, you serve at least 85%. Fed court will not sentence someone to "1 to 2 years".

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  22. Hey, thanks, 2:15AM. Now, with your unique and special knowledge and authority on this specific case, at least state precisely what rock solid expectations are. We await something more trustworthy.

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  23. I have no doubt Pawlowski, AKA The Penguin, will serve jail time.

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