Democratic
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah
A longtime Philadelphia congressman
who was indicted Wednesday paid off a campaign loan with charitable
donations and federal grants, funneled campaign money to pay down his
son's student loan debt and disguised a lobbyist's bribe as payment for a
car he never sold, federal prosecutors said.
Democratic
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and four associates were charged with
racketeering conspiracy. They also were charged with bribery, conspiracy
to commit wire, honest services, bank and mail fraud, and money
laundering, among other things.
Prosecutors say the charges covered
several schemes. They allege Fattah used federal grants and donations to
his educational foundation to pay back part of a wealthy campaign
supporter's $1 million loan and that he helped arrange a $15 million
federal grant for a nonexistent nonprofit in lieu of a $130,000 payment
to a political consultant after his failed 2007 mayoral run.
"The
public does not expect their elected officials to misuse campaign
funds, misappropriate government funds, accept bribes or commit bank
fraud," U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said. "These types of criminal acts
betray the public trust and undermine faith in government."
Source: NBC News
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