Crime & Safety

Former Philly Official Admits To Taking Bribes, Getting Kickbacks

Federal authorities said former employee of the Philadelphia Controller's Office faces 24 years in prison for his crimes.

A former city employee admitted to taking bribes and getting kickbacks.
A former city employee admitted to taking bribes and getting kickbacks. (Shutterstock)

PHILADELPHIA — A former Philadelphia officials pleaded guilty to taking bribes and getting kickbacks, federal authorities said Wednesday.

According to United States Attorney William M. McSwain, Jeffrey Blackwell, 47, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of honest services wire fraud, filing a false tax return, and two counts of failure to file a tax return.

Blackwell, a former City of Philadelphia employee in the Office of the City Controller, committed a series of frauds, accepting more than $20,000 in bribes and kickbacks, authorities said.

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He faces up to 24 years in prison, a 3-year period of supervised release, $600,000 fine, and a $225 special assessment. Blackwell will be sentenced in December this year.

Between 2013 and 2015, while serving in the Investigations Division of the Controller’s Office, Blackwell misused his official position to enrich himself by soliciting money in exchange for official actions or the promise of official actions, but rarely provided the promised permits or contracts.

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At his plea hearing, he admitted that he solicited bribes from at least five individuals who were seeking permits or contracts from the city.

One of these individuals owned a furniture store and paid Blackwell for permits to park a storage container on the street. The second person was renovating a house and paid Blackwell for permits to allow that renovation. The third person owned a construction business and paid Blackwell to obtain a plumbing permit. The fourth person owned an auto body shop and paid Blackwell in the hope of getting a license to buy and sell cars as well as a city contract to install decals on police vehicles. The fifth person, who was cooperating with the FBI at the time, told Blackwell that he needed permits from the City of Philadelphia to renovate a house.

Blackwell also admitted that he filed a false 2012 federal income tax return that falsely deducted travel expenses and falsely claimed a dependent, and he admitted that he failed to file a return as required by law for tax years 2013 and 2014.

"This case is one of a bad actor who abused his position and took advantage of the system for his own personal gain," said Philadelphia City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. "When offenders, like this one, are held accountable, we’re taking an important step toward restoring the public’s trust in government and committing to the idea that Philadelphia works for everyone, not just the connected. But it is important to underscore that this case is not reflective of all city employees, most of whom are hardworking, do their job with integrity and want to make Philadelphia a better place."


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