Yesterday, former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was sentenced up to 15 years in federal prison for rigging municipal contracts in a scheme to raise money for his political campaigns for higher office, according to the AP.
In March, Pawlowski, 53, was convicted on 47 of 54 charges into allegations of pay-to-play politics in Allentown City Hall. The judge has since dismissed and the prosecution has dropped a combined nine charges, according to WFMZ.
The jury found that he “coerced” Allentown city vendors to contribute to his failed gubernatorial and U.S. senatorial campaigns, “orchestrating a scheme to rig contracts for legal, engineering, technology, and construction work,” according to the AP.
Federal Judge Juan Sanchez said he didn’t sense much remorse in Pawlowski, “no apologies, no contrition” and that he and his co-defendants acted more like “criminals than public servants” according to the Morning Call.
Pawlowski denied wrongdoing and says he will appeal his conviction.
Pawlowski resigned in March after winning re-election in November for a fourth term.
For more in-depth coverage on this development, here are the stories from various local news outlets.
AP: Ex-mayor gets 15 years in prison on corruption charges
Morning Call: Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski stunned by 15-year prison sentence that lawyer calls “cruel”
WFMZ: Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski sentenced to 15 years
Express Times: No mercy for ex-Allentown mayor Ed Pawlowski. Judge hits hard on prison sentence
One Response
Sorry to read this news. Unfortunate. Truly unfortunate.