Associated Press
Six current and former Philadelphia traffic court judges have been charged with fixing tickets for friends and political allies, in a sweeping federal indictment that also charges three suburban judges, a court clerk and two businessmen.
The Inquirer reported that the charged were current Judges Michael Sullivan and Michael Lowry; former Judges Robert Mulgrew, Fortunato Perri Sr., Willie Singletary and Thomasine Tynes; and three suburban district court judges who sometimes filled in for Philadelphia Traffice court judges.
Those suburban district judges are Mark A. Bruno of Chester County, Warren Hogeland of Bucks County and Kenneth Miller of Delaware County.
Those judges, Robert Mulgrew, Michael Lowry, Willie Singletary, Michael Sullivan and Thomasine Tynes were scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate at 1:30 PM Thursday.
Four others were indicted, including former traffic court administrator William Hird, who was described as the chief ticket fixer for the court in a previous report by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The defendants include former traffic judge Willie Singletary, who had been kicked out of office for showing cellphone photos of his genitals to a female clerk.
His lawyer says Singletary and several other judges surrendered to the FBI Thursday morning. They are due in court Thursday afternoon.
Lawyer William J. Brennan says Singletary never took a dime from anyone.
The 77-count indictment charges three judges with lying to the grand jury and Singletary with lying to the FBI.
Federal officials allege “a widespread culture of giving breaks on traffic citations to friends, family, the politically-connected and business associates.”
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