Philadelphia Board of Ethics 

 

Contact: J. Shane Creamer, Jr., Executive Director, 215-686-9450 

For Immediate Release: January 28, 2013 

 

PHILADELPHIA – On January 28, 2013, the Board of Ethics approved a settlement agreement 
involving the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown and the Hon. Blondell Reynolds Brown. The 
agreement resolves violations of the campaign finance law by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown 
and Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown for: a) making material misstatements and omissions in 
campaign finance reports filed with the Board (Phila. Code § 20-1006(4)); b) accepting excess 
contributions (Phila. Code § 20-1002(12)); and c) failing to properly deposit contributions (Phila. 
Code § 20-1003). The agreement also resolves violations by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for 
accepting prohibited gifts (Phila. Code § 20-604) and failing to disclose transactions on her 2010 
and 2011 Statements of Financial Interests, as required by Phila. Code § 20-610. 

 

A copy of the approved settlement agreement is attached. 

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics is a five-member independent board established by ordinance, 
approved by Philadelphia voters in May 2006, and installed on November 27, 2006. It is charged 
with providing ethics training for all City employees and enforcing City campaign finance, 
financial disclosure and conflict of interest laws. The Ethics Board has authority to render 
advice, investigate complaints and issue fines. 

### 


 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT 
This Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by the Board of 
Ethics of the City of Philadelphia, the Executive Director of the Board, the Hon. Blondell 
Reynolds Brown, and the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown, jointly referred to as “the 
Parties.” 
RECITALS 


A. The Board of Ethics of the City of Philadelphia is a five-member, independent board 
established by ordinance, approved by Philadelphia voters in May 2006, and installed on 
November 27, 2006. Pursuant to section 4-1100 of the Home Rule Charter, the Board is 
charged with, among other things, enforcing the City’s Ethics Code, campaign finance law, 
and the sections of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter that impose restrictions on the 
political activity of City employees. 


 

B. The Hon. Blondell Reynolds Brown is member of Philadelphia’s City Council where she 
sits as a Council Member At-Large. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown was a candidate for 
City Council in 2011. Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown is the political committee 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown authorized to accept contributions and make expenditures 
on her behalf. 


 

C. Under the City’s campaign finance law, candidates for City office and their political 
committees are required to electronically file campaign finance reports with the Board 
disclosing their financial activity. Filings with the Board follow the schedule set by the 
Pennsylvania Election Code which divides the year into seven filing cycles. Municipal 
candidates must file cycle 2 reports approximately two weeks before and cycle 3 reports 30 
days after the primary election, cycle 5 reports approximately two weeks before and cycle 6 
reports 30 days after the general election. Municipal candidates must also file an annual 
report which is due approximately 30 days after the end of the calendar year. 


 

D. Pursuant to Philadelphia Code § 20-1006(4), the making of a material misstatement or 
omission in a report filed with the Board is a violation of the City’s campaign finance law. 


 

E. Pursuant to Philadelphia Code § 20-1002(1), in 2011, a person could not permissibly 
contribute more than $2,600 to a City candidate’s candidate committee in a calendar year. 


 

F. Pursuant to Philadelphia Code § 20-1002(2), in 2011, a political committee could not 
permissibly contribute more than $10,600 to a City candidate’s candidate committee in a 
calendar year. 



G. Pursuant to Code § 20-1002(12), no candidate for City elective office may accept any 
contribution which exceeds the contribution limits set forth in Chapter 20-1000. 


 

H. Philadelphia Code § 20-604(1) provides that no member of Council or other City officer or 
employee, shall solicit, accept or receive any gift, loan, gratuity, favor or service of 
substantial economic value that might reasonably be expected to influence one in his or her 
position in the discharge of his or her official duties, from any person, firm, corporation or 
other business or professional organization. 


 

I. Philadelphia Code § 20-610 requires all City Council members to file a yearly Statement of 
Financial Interests with the Board in which they must disclose, among other things: 


 

1. The name and address of any person who is the direct or indirect source of income 
totaling in the aggregate $500 dollars or more. 




 

2. The name and address of any person from whom a gift or gifts valued in the 
aggregate at $200 dollars or more were received, and the value and the circumstances 
of each gift; and 




 

3. The source of any honorarium received which is in excess of $100. 




 

J. In April of 2012, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown voluntarily disclosed to Board 
enforcement staff that Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown had failed to disclose two 
transactions in the 2010 cycle 7 campaign finance report it had filed with the Board. One 
was a December 10, 2010 contribution from Fattah for Congress of $4,000. The other was 
a December 1, 2010 expenditure of $3,300 to Chaka Fattah, Jr. The purpose of the 
expenditure was to repay a personal loan that Fattah, Jr. had made to Councilwoman 
Blondell Reynolds Brown in December of 2010 in order to prevent her home from being 
foreclosed. 


 

K. Based on the information provided by the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown in April of 
2012, Board enforcement staff opened an investigation. In the course of the investigation, 
Board enforcement staff discovered multiple violations of the City’s campaign finance law 
by the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and 
multiple violations of the City’s Ethics Code by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. Board 
staff obtained documents and bank records and interviewed numerous witnesses in the 
course of the investigation. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown voluntarily provided a 
statement to Board enforcement staff and produced documents as requested. 


 

L. During 2011, John D. McDaniel served as the campaign manager for Councilwoman 
Blondell Reynolds Brown’s campaign for re-election to a City Council at-large seat. 


 

M. From 1999 through 2003, McDaniel was the registered treasurer of Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown. 


 



N. From 2006 through the end of 2011, Gail Scarborough was the registered treasurer of 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown, but she had no actual involvement with the 
committee during that time period. With Councilwoman Reynolds Brown’s knowledge, 
McDaniel acted as the de facto treasurer and personally wrote checks and made 
expenditures from the committee’s account. He also collected and deposited contributions 
made to the Councilwoman’s campaign and prepared and filed campaign finance reports 
with the Ethics Board and City Commissioners on behalf of the committee. McDaniel was 
the sole signer on the checking account held by the committee. 


 

O. In late 2010, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown was having severe financial problems due to 
her husband, from whom she was separated, refusing to make payments for the mortgage 
on the home they shared with their daughter and the Councilwoman’s elderly mother. As a 
result, the Councilwoman’s lender initiated foreclosure proceedings and the Councilwoman 
had to come up with approximately $30,000 to save her home. 


 

P. Although Councilwoman Reynolds Brown was able to raise most of the money from her 
own resources, in late November of 2010, she was between $3,000 and $4,000 short of the 
amount she needed. 


 

Q. Facing a deadline in the foreclosure proceedings, the Councilwoman called her long-time 
mentor Congressman Chaka Fattah and asked if he could help her. He said he would. 
Shortly after her conversation with the Congressman, the Councilwoman received a 
telephone call from Chaka Fattah, Jr. who told her that he had a check for her. 


 

R. The Councilwoman met with Fattah, Jr. who gave her a check for $3,300 that listed him as 
the remitter. The money from Fattah, Jr. was a loan that the Councilwoman intended to 
repay as soon as possible. The Councilwoman should have, but did not, disclose on her 
City of Philadelphia 2010 Statement of Financial Interest the $3,300 she received from 
Fattah, Jr. 


 

S. At the time he gave the Councilwoman the check for $3,300, Fattah, Jr. was an employee 
of a for-profit charter school that had a contract with the School District of Philadelphia. 
The City of Philadelphia provides substantial funding to the School District. Every year, 
City Council holds hearings on the School District’s budget and votes to approve the 
disbursement of City money to the District. 


 

T. Shortly after receiving the check from Fattah, Jr., Councilwoman Reynolds Brown asked 
John McDaniel to use funds from the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown account to 
repay Chaka Fattah, Jr. for the money he had loaned her. 


 

U. On December 15, 2010, McDaniel made out a check for $3,300 to Fattah, Jr. In the Friends 
of Blondell Reynolds Brown’s 2010 cycle 7 report, instead of disclosing an expenditure of 
$3,300 to Fattah, Jr., McDaniel disclosed a fictitious expenditure in that amount to 
Strassheim Graphic Design. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, 
disclose on her City of Philadelphia 2010 Statement of Financial Interests the $3,300 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown paid Fattah, Jr. 



 

V. On April 11, 2012, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown repaid Friends of Blondell Reynolds 
Brown for the payment Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown had made to Fattah, Jr. on 
December 15, 2010. 


 

W. In addition to serving as the de facto treasurer of Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown, in 
2011 McDaniel also served as the de facto treasurer of Progressive Agenda PAC and was 
the sole signer on Progressive Agenda’s checking account. 


 

X. In 2011, McDaniel caused Progressive Agenda PAC to make a total of $42,000 in 
contributions to the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown checking account, as follows: 


 

1. An April 15th check from Progressive Agenda for $10,000. 




 

2. An April 20th deposit of $10,000 in cash from Progressive Agenda’s account. 




 

3. An April 22nd check from Progressive Agenda for $15,000. 




 

4. A May 13th check from Progressive Agenda for $500. 




 

5. A June 14th deposit of $5,000 in cash. On the same day, McDaniel made out a check 
from Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown to Progressive Agenda for $5,000 which 
the committee subsequently described in its 2011 cycle 3 campaign finance report as 
“contribution return.” 




 

6. An October 18th deposit of $1,500 in cash from Progressive Agenda’s account. 




 

Y. In 2011, McDaniel personally made a total of $4,600 in contributions to the Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown checking account, as follows: 


 

1. An April 6th check for $1,000 drawn on his personal checking account; 




 

2. An April 6th check for $500 drawn on his personal checking account; 




 

3. An April 25th check for $500 drawn on his personal checking account; 




 

4. A June 22nd deposit of $1,450 in cash from his personal checking account; 




 

5. An August 26th check for $150 drawn on his personal checking account; 




 

6. A September 30th deposit of $450 in cash from his personal checking account; and 




 

7. A December 21st check for $550 drawn on his personal checking account. 




 

Z. McDaniel did not tell Councilwoman Reynolds Brown that he and Progressive Agenda 
were making excess contributions to the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown. 


 



AA. In August of 2011, the Ethics Board initiated an enforcement action against the Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman Reynolds Brown alleging various violations 
of the City’s campaign finance law. In September of 2011, the Board, the committee, and 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown entered into a settlement agreement in which the 
committee and Councilwoman admitted to violations of the campaign finance law for 
accepting two excess contributions from Progressive Agenda (the April 22nd and May 13th 
contributions listed in Paragraph X) and for failing to disclose numerous contributions in 
multiple campaign finance reports. Under the agreement, the committee agreed to pay the 
Board a $6,500 monetary penalty and the Councilwoman agreed to personally pay the 
Board $1,500. The committee represented to the Board that it had paid back the excess 
contributions and agreed to file amended campaign finance reports to correct its reporting 
failures. 


 

BB. On September 20, 2011, McDaniel made out a check to Progressive Agenda drawn on the 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown account for $9,900. The purpose of the check was to 
repay excess contributions Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown had received from 
Progressive Agenda. The committee needed to refund the excess contributions in order to 
finalize the settlement agreement with the Board. McDaniel gave the check to the 
committee's lawyer who made a photocopy which she sent to Board staff. 


 

CC. Based on that copy of the check, the Board accepted the committee’s representation that it 
had refunded the $9,900 to Progressive Agenda. However, McDaniel never deposited the 
check into Progressive Agenda’s account. At the time, Friends of Blondell Reynolds 
Brown did not have nearly enough money in its account to cover the check. McDaniel did 
not tell anyone connected with the committee that he had not deposited the check. At the 
time, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown did not know how much money the committee 
actually had in its account. 


 

DD. Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown represented to Board enforcement staff that McDaniel 
would not be involved in the operations of the committee after the settlement agreement. 
The committee contracted with an outside consultant to prepare and file its amended 2011 
cycle 2 and 3 reports and to file the committee’s 2011 cycle 5, 6, and 7 reports. The 
consultant contractually agreed to use bank records as a basis of the campaign finance 
reports he filed, but failed to do so. 


 

EE. McDaniel remained actively involved with Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown through 
the end of 2011 while the committee sought a new treasurer. As the only signer on the 
committee’s bank account, McDaniel continued to write checks and make withdrawals 
from the committee’s account for Councilwoman Reynolds Brown’s campaign. McDaniel 
also continued to collect and deposit campaign contributions. McDaniel was the only 
person associated with the committee who had direct access to the committee’s bank 
records. 


 



FF. Despite bringing in an outside consultant, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown made 
multiple material misstatements and omissions in the amended 2011 cycle 2 and 3 
campaign finance report it filed with the Board pursuant to the settlement agreement. The 
committee also made multiple material misstatements and omissions in the 2011 cycle 5, 6, 
and 7 campaign finance reports it filed with the Board. Specifically: 


 

1. The committee made 81 material omissions and two material misstatements in its 
amended 2011 cycle 2 report; 




 

2. The committee made 31 material omissions and one material misstatement in its 
amended 2011 cycle 3 report; 




 

3. The committee made 25 material omissions and one material misstatement in its 
amended 2011 cycle 5 report; 




 

4. The committee made 15 material omissions and one material misstatement in its 
amended 2011 cycle 6 report; and 




 

5. The committee made 13 material omissions and one material misstatement in its 
amended 2011 cycle 7 report. 




 

GG. The material omissions Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown made in the campaign finance 
reports it filed with the Board in 2011 are set forth in detail at Exhibit A. 


 

HH. The two misstatements in the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 2011 cycle 2 report 
were: 


 

1. An April 26, 2011 check made out to Progressive Agenda for $1,116.20 which 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown disclosed as simply “contribution.” According 
to McDaniel, the purpose of the check was to pay a lawyer, Sharon Losier, who had 
handled a ballot challenge against one of the Councilwoman’s opponents. Rather than 
disclose that Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown funded the ballot challenge, 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown gave Progressive Agenda the money and 
Progressive Agenda wrote a check to Losier. 


 

2. Disclosure of $76,683.72 brought forward from the prior report. In fact, at the time, 
the committee had an account balance of $8,477.53. 


 

II. The misstatement in the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 2011 cycle 3 report was the 
disclosure of $50,670.43 brought forward from the prior report. Bank records show that 
FBRB bank account had a balance of $19,406.45 at start of cycle. 


 

JJ. The misstatement in the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 2011 cycle 5 report was the 
disclosure of $21,136.54 brought forward from the prior report. In fact, at the time, the 
committee had an account balance of $1,308. 


 

KK. The misstatement in the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 2011 cycle 6 report was the 
disclosure of $57,544.04 brought forward from the prior report. In fact, at the time, the 
committee had an account balance of $1,887.85. 


 


LL. The misstatement in the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 2011 cycle 7 report was the 
disclosure of $60,537.73 brought forward from the prior report. In fact, at the time, the 
committee had an account balance of $1,650.75. 


 

MM. Around the time that the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown was finalizing its settlement 
agreement with the Board, McDaniel told Councilwoman Reynolds Brown that he felt 
responsible for the violations and that he could cover the penalties she personally owed the 
Board and whatever legal fees she had personally incurred. Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown accepted his offer. 


 

NN. On October 31, 2011, McDaniel gave Councilwoman Reynolds Brown a cashier’s check 
for $1,500. On November 1, 2011, McDaniel gave her a cashier’s check for $750. He got 
the money for the cashier's checks from his personal account. McDaniel gave the 
Councilwoman the cashier’s checks to cover personal expenses connected to the settlement 
agreement with the Board. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, 
disclose the $1,500 and $750 she received from McDaniel on her City of Philadelphia 2011 
Statement of Financial Interest. 


 

OO. In early March of 2012, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown contacted McDaniel and said that 
she needed money to cover the penalty she owed the Board. On March 9, 2012, McDaniel 
gave the Councilwoman a check drawn on his personal account and made out for $1,000. 
He left the payee line blank. The Councilwoman made the check out to herself. 


 

PP. On May 4, 2012, McDaniel gave Councilwoman Reynolds Brown a check drawn on his 
personal account for $500 as a final installment of what he had offered to help her with as a 
result of the Councilwoman’s settlement agreement with the Board. 


 

QQ. On May 6, 2011, Stephanie Bowser made out a campaign contribution check for $100 to 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for a fundraiser held by the Councilwoman’s campaign. 
However, rather than deposit the check into her campaign account, the Councilwoman 
deposited it into her personal account. 


 

RR. On May 10, 2011, Gary Harper made out a campaign contribution check for $50 to 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for a fundraiser held by the Councilwoman’s campaign. 
However, rather than deposit the check into her campaign account, the Councilwoman 
deposited it into her personal account. 


 

SS. On May 13, 2011, Charles McSweeney made out a campaign contribution check for $250 
to Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for a fundraiser held by the Councilwoman’s campaign. 
However, rather than deposit the check into her campaign account, the Councilwoman 
deposited it into her personal account. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but 
did not, disclose the $250 she received from Charles McSweeney on her City of 
Philadelphia 2011 Statement of Financial Interests. 


 



TT. On May 17, 2011, Sidney Booker gave Councilwoman Reynolds Brown a signed and 
dated, but otherwise blank campaign contribution check. The Councilwoman made out the 
check for $1,000 and, rather than deposit the check into her campaign account, deposited it 
into her personal account. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, 
disclose the $1,000 she received from Sidney Booker on her City of Philadelphia 2011 
Statement of Financial Interests. 


 

UU. On April 1, 2011, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown received an honorarium of $500 from 
the Hardy Williams Education Fund. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did 
not, disclose this honorarium on her City of Philadelphia 2011 Statement of Financial 
Interests. 


 

VV. On June 29, 2011, as the recipient of the 2011 Leon J. Obermayer award for excellence, 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown received $2,500 from Obermayer, Rebmann Maxwell & 
Hippel LLP. The award is given to an outstanding alumna/alumnus of the Philadelphia 
public schools who has distinguished him or herself in his or her career. Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, disclose the $2,500 she received from 
Obermayer on her City of Philadelphia 2011 Statement of Financial Interests. 
WW. In 2010 and 2011, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown received several hundred dollars from 
the Council for Educational Travel as payment for hosting an exchange student. 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, disclose the money she received 
from the Council for Educational Travel on her City of Philadelphia 2010 and 2011 
Statements of Financial Interests. 


 

XX. In 2010, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown received rental income from a property she 
owns. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown should have, but did not, disclose that rental 
income on her City of Philadelphia 2010 Statement of Financial Interests. 


 

YY. The Parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to resolve the matters described 
herein. 


 



AGREEMENT 
The Parties agree that: 
Material Omissions and Misstatements 


1. By making 81 material omissions and two material misstatements in the amended 2011 cycle 
2 campaign finance report it filed with the Board, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
violated § 20-1006(4) of the Philadelphia Code, for which the committee and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000. 


 

2. By making 31 material omissions and one material misstatement in the amended 2011 cycle 
3 campaign finance report it filed with the Board, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
violated § 20-1006(4) of the Philadelphia Code, for which the committee and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000. 


 

3. By making 25 material omissions and 1 material misstatement in the 2011 cycle 5 campaign 
finance report it filed with the Board, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown violated 
§ 20-1006(4) of the Philadelphia Code, for which the committee and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000. 


 

4. By making 15 material omissions and one material misstatement in the 2011 cycle 6 
campaign finance report it filed with the Board, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
violated § 20-1006(4) of the Philadelphia Code, for which the committee and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000. 


 

5. By making 13 material omissions and one material misstatement in the 2011 cycle 7 
campaign finance report it filed with the Board, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
violated § 20-1006(4) of the Philadelphia Code, for which the committee and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000. 


 
Acceptance of Excess Contributions from Progressive Agenda PAC 


6. By accepting a contribution from Progressive Agenda PAC on April 20, 2011 that exceeded 
the contributions limits by $9,400, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

7. By accepting a contribution from Progressive Agenda PAC on June 14, 2011 that exceeded 
the contributions limits by $5,000, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

8. By accepting a contribution from Progressive Agenda PAC on October 17, 2011 that 
exceeded the contributions limits by $1,500, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they 
shall be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 



 Acceptance of Excess Contributions from John McDaniel 


9. By accepting a contribution from John McDaniel on June 22, 2011 that exceeded the 
contributions limits by $850, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

10. By accepting a contribution from John McDaniel on August 26, 2011 that exceeded the 
contributions limits by $150, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $450. 


 

11. By accepting a contribution from John McDaniel on September 30, 2011 that exceeded the 
contributions limits by $450, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

12. By accepting a contribution from John McDaniel on December 21, 2011 that exceeded the 
contributions limits by $550, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1002(12) of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall be 
jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 
Deposit of Contributions in Personal Account 


13. By depositing the May 6, 2011 contribution from Stephanie Bowser into Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown’s personal account, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1003 of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall 
be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

14. By depositing the May 10, 2011 contribution from Gary Harper into Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown’s personal account, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1003 of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall 
be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

15. By depositing the May 13, 2011 contribution from Charles McSweeney to Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown’s personal account, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1003 of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall 
be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 

16. By depositing the May 17, 2011 contribution from Sidney Booker into Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown’s personal account, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown violated § 20-1003 of the Philadelphia Code, for which they shall 
be jointly and severally subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000. 


 


Acceptance of Money in Violation of 20-604 


17. By accepting $3,300 from Chaka Fattah, Jr. on December 1, 2010, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown violated § 20-604(1) of the Philadelphia Code, for which she shall be subject to a 
civil monetary penalty of $500. 


 

18. By accepting $1,500 from John McDaniel on October 31, 2011, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown violated § 20-604(1) of the Philadelphia Code, for which she shall be subject to a 
civil monetary penalty of $500. 


 

19. By accepting $750 from John McDaniel on November 1, 2011, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown violated § 20-604(1) of the Philadelphia Code, for which she shall be subject to a 
civil monetary penalty of $500. 


 

20. By accepting $1,000 from John McDaniel on March 9, 2012, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown violated § 20-604(1) of the Philadelphia Code, for which she shall be subject to a 
civil monetary penalty of $500. 


 

21. By accepting $500 from John McDaniel on May 4, 2012, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown 
violated § 20-604(1) of the Philadelphia Code, for which she shall be subject to a civil 
monetary penalty of $500. 


 
Failure to Disclose Transactions on 2010 and 2011 Statements of Financial Interests 


22. By failing to disclose the following transactions in her City of Philadelphia 2010 Statement 
of Financial Interest, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown violated § 20-610 of the Philadelphia 
Code, for which she shall be subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000: 


 

a. Receipt of $3,300 from Chaka Fattah, Jr. on December 1, 2010; 
b. Payment by Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown of $3,300 owed to Chaka Fattah, 
Jr.; 
c. Receipt of income from rental properties; and 
d. Receipt of payments from the Council for Educational Travel. 


 

23. By failing to disclose the following transactions in her City of Philadelphia 2011 Statement 
of Financial Interest, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown violated § 20-610 of the Philadelphia 
Code, for which she shall be subject to a civil monetary penalty of $1,000: 


 

a. Receipt of $1,500 from John McDaniel on October 31,2011; 
b. Receipt of $750 from John McDaniel on November 1,2011; 
c. Receipt of $2,500 from Obermayer, Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP on 
June 29, 2011; 
d. Receipt of $1,000 from Sidney Booker on May 17, 2011; 
e. Receipt of $250 from Charles McSweeney on May 13, 2011; 
f. Receipt of $500 honorarium from the Hardy Williams Education Fund on April 1, 
2011; and 
g. Receipt of payments from the Council for Educational Travel. 



 

24. The Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall disgorge to the City of Philadelphia excess 
contributions it received in 2011 from Progressive Agenda, as set forth in Paragraphs 6-8. In 
2011, starting with the April 15th contribution, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown accepted 
a total of $42,000 from Progressive Agenda, which exceeded the contribution limit of 
$10,600 by $31,400. However, from April 15th through the end of 2011, Friends of Blondell 
Reynolds Brown made expenditures of $13,266 to Progressive Agenda. Offsetting the excess 
amount of $31,400 by the already disbursed $13,266 results in a disgorgement by Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown of $18,134. 


 

25. The Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall disgorge to the City of Philadelphia the 
$2,000 in excess contributions it received in 2011 from John McDaniel, as set forth in 
Paragraphs 9-12. 


 

26. The total disgorgement Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall make to the City of 
Philadelphia is $20,134. 


 

27. The aggregate civil monetary penalty Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown shall pay to the City of Philadelphia is $20,450. 


 

28. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall pay the 
combined $40,584 in civil monetary penalties and disgorgement for which they are jointly 
and severally liable on following schedule: 


 

a. $5,000 due within two weeks of effective date of Agreement 
b. $5,000 due by May 31, 2013 
c. $5,000 due by September 30, 2013 
d. $5,000 due by December 31, 2013 
e. $5,000 due by March 31, 2014 
f. $5,000 due by August 31, 2014 
g. $5,000 due by December 31, 2014 
h. $5,584 due by March 31, 2015 


 

29. Starting with the second payment, each time Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown makes a 
payment, it shall provide to the Board: 


 

a. All bank records (statements, deposit/withdrawal slips, cancelled checks) covering 
the period of time since the last installment payment; and 
b. A receipted bill (as required by 4 Pa. Code § 177.2(c)) for any and all expenditures 
made during the covered time period that exceeds $25. 




 



30. If Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown does not have sufficient funds to make a scheduled 
payment, it shall pay 50% of funds raised since the date of the previous installment. The 
unpaid balance for that installment shall be added to the next installment. If the committee is 
unable to pay the balance due at the time of the final installment, it shall pay 50% of funds 
raised since the date of the previous installment and shall pay the remainder owed within four 
months of the date of the final installment. If Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown does not 
have sufficient funds to make the final payment, it shall immediately notify the Board’s 
Executive Director and request a modification of the payment schedule. 


 

31. If, by December 31, 2014, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown have made payment of the amount due for the first six payments totaling 
$30,000, they shall be relieved of its obligation to make the payment of $5,000 that is due by 
December 31, 2014 and the payment of $5,584 that is due by March 31, 2015. 


 

32. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown shall disgorge to the City of Philadelphia the $3,750 she 
accepted in violation of Code § 20-604(1), as set forth in Paragraphs 18-21. 


 

33. The aggregate civil monetary penalty Councilwoman Reynolds Brown shall pay to the City 
of Philadelphia is $4,500. 


 

34. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown shall pay the $8,250 in civil monetary penalties and 
disgorgement for which she is solely liable on following schedule: 


 

a. $500 within 30 days of the effective date of the agreement; 
b. $500 due by June 30, 2013; 
c. $1,000 due by October 30, 2013; 
d. $2,000 due by January 31, 2014; 
e. $2,000 due by April 30, 2014; and 
f. $2,250 due by August 31, 2014. 


 

35. Starting with the second payment, each time she makes a payment, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown shall provide to the Board an affidavit in which she lists any and all persons, 
excluding the City of Philadelphia, from whom she has received $500 or more, in the 
aggregate, since the previous payment she made to the Board. 


 

36. If, by December 31, 2014, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown has made payment of the amount 
due for the first five payments totaling $6,000, she shall be relieved of its obligation to make 
the final payment of $2,000 that is due by August 31, 2014. 


 

37. Within 60 days of the effective date of the agreement, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
shall file amended reports for 2011 cycles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. For each amended report, Friends 
of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall submit to the Board a certification from the person who 
compiled the report attesting that he or she has reviewed the amended report and all bank 
records for the time period covered by the amended report and that the information contained 
in the amended report is true and correct. Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall be 
subject to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000 for each material omission or misstatement 
made in an amended report filed pursuant to this Agreement. 



 

38. Within 60 days of the effective date of the agreement, Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
shall file an amended 2010 cycle 7 campaign finance report properly disclosing the 
December 10, 2010 contribution of $4,000 Fattah for Congress and the December 1, 2010 
expenditure to Chaka Fattah, Jr. 


 

39. For the time period of January 1, 2013 through January 31, 2017, any time Friends of 
Blondell Reynolds Brown files a report with City Commissioners, it shall electronically file a 
copy of that report with Board. This time period shall include the 2012 and 2016 cycle 7 
reports. 


 

40. Any time Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown files a report with the Board in the time 
period of January 1, 2013 through January 31, 2017, it shall submit to the Board a 
certification from the person who compiled the report that he or she has reviewed the report 
and all bank records for the time period covered by the report and that the information 
contained in the report is true and correct. 


 

41. Any contributions received by either Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilwoman 
Reynolds Brown, or an agent thereof in time period of January 1, 2013 through January 31, 
2017 shall be deposited into the Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown checking account (or 
the checking account of a litigation fund, as provided by Board Regulation No. 1). 


 

42. For time period of January 1, 2013 through January 31, 2017, Councilwoman Reynolds 
Brown shall neither establish nor authorize another political committee pursuant to the PA 
Election Code without first notifying the Board. If Councilwoman Reynolds Brown does 
establish or authorize another political committee, that committee shall provide bank records 
for that committee to the Board upon request. 


 

43. Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall not accept any cash contribution that exceeds 
$100. 


 

44. Within 30 days of the effective date of the agreement, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown shall 
file amended 2010 and 2011 City of Philadelphia Statements of Financial Interest correcting 
all omissions indentified in this Agreement. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown shall be subject 
to a civil monetary penalty of $2,000 for any omission or misstatement she makes in an 
amended Statement of Financial Interest filed pursuant to this Agreement. 


 

45. Any records or documents that the Agreement requires Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown 
or Councilwoman Reynolds Brown to provide to the Board shall be sent to the attention of 
the Board’s Executive Director. 


 

46. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown release and hold 
harmless the Board and its staff from any potential claims, liabilities, and causes of action 
arising from the Board’s investigation, enforcement, and settlement of the matters described 
in the Agreement. 


 


47. In consideration of the above and in exchange for Councilwoman Reynolds Brown’s and 
Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown’s compliance with all of the terms of the Agreement, 
the Board waives any further penalties or fines against her for the violations described in the 
Agreement. 


 

48. The Parties will not make any public statements that are inconsistent with the terms of the 
Agreement. 


 

49. If the Ethics Board is forced to seek judicial enforcement of the Agreement, and prevails, 
Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Friends of Blondell Reynolds Brown shall be liable for 
attorneys’ fees and costs reasonably expended in enforcing compliance with the Agreement. 
Fees for time spent by Board staff attorneys shall be calculated based upon standard and 
customary billing rates in Philadelphia for attorneys with similar experience. 


 

50. The Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Parties. 


 

51. The Parties will submit a signed copy of the Agreement to the Board for approval. 


 

52. The Agreement shall become effective upon approval by the Board. The effective date of the 
Agreement shall be the date the Board approves the Agreement. 


 

53. If the Board rejects the proposed Agreement, presentation to and consideration of the 
Agreement by the Board shall not preclude the Board or its staff from participating in or 
considering or resolving an administrative adjudication of the matters described in the 
Agreement. 


 

54. If the Board rejects the proposed Agreement, nothing in the proposed Agreement shall be 
considered an admission by either party and, except for paragraph 53, nothing in the 
Agreement shall be effective. 


 



 EXHIBIT A 


Cycle 2 Omissions (81) 
Cycle 2 – Check Expenditures Omitted (39) 

Date 

Amount 

Check No. 

Payee 

1/20/11 

$875 

Debit 

Auto Dealers 

2/9/11 

$1,300 

1029 

Teenagers in Charge 

2/10/11 

$200 

1038 

Sabatina (?) for Senate 

2/21/11 

$125 

1043 

Rae Marie Smith 

2/24/11 

$220 

1045 

USPS 

2/17/11 

$230 

1048 

Shantel French 

2/23/11 

$160 

1053 

AT&T 

2/23/11 

$600 

1060 

Tiffanie Standard 

3/10/11 

$250 

1067 

Shantel French 

3/10/11 

$150 

1068 

Tiffanie Scott 

3/8/11 

$400 

1070 

Sabir Hameen 

3/12/11 

$656 

1079 

Strassheim Printing & Graphic 

3/18/11 

$250 

1083 

Shantel French 

3/24/11 

$600 

1097 

Tiffanie Standard 

3/25/11 

$201.12 

Debit 

Cavalier Telephone 

3/29/11 

$250 

1110 

Shantel French 

3/30/11 

$860 

1111 

Distante 

3/31/11 

$250 

1112 

Shantel French 

3/31/11 

$150 

1113 

Tiffanie Scott 

4/15/11 

$500 

1131 

Shantel French 

4/15/11 

$300 

1132 

Tiffanie Scott 

4/18/11 

$426.60 

1133 

Strassheim Printing & Graphic 

4/26/11 

$500 

1147 

Tiffanie Standard 

4/25/11 

$500 

1154 

Shantel French 

4/29/11 

$300 

1155 

Tiffanie Scott 

5/2/2011 

$100 

1162 

American Heart Association 

1/13/2011 

$500 

1024 

John McDaniel 

2/7/2011 

$867 

1036 

John McDaniel 

2/8/2011 

$500 

1030 

John McDaniel 

2/21/2011 

$900 

1049 

John McDaniel 

3/3/2011 

$640 

1062 

John McDaniel 

3/24/2011 

$506 

1101 

John McDaniel 

5/1/2011 

$5,000 

1169 

John McDaniel 

1/22/2011 

$1,500 

1028 

Progressive Agenda 

2/17/2011 

$750 

1046 

Progressive Agenda 

2/24/2011 

$2,000 

1044 

Progressive Agenda 

3/28/2011 

$1,050 

1108 

Progressive Agenda 

4/20/2011 

$1,000 

1141 

Progressive Agenda 

4/27/2011 

$4,000 

1150 

Progressive Agenda 



 



Cycle 2 – Cash Withdrawal Expenditures Omitted (37) 

Date of withdrawal 

Amount 

Type 

1/5/2011 

$84 

ATM 

 

$104 

ATM 

 

$202.50 

ATM 

1/7/2011 

$102.50 

ATM 

 

$202.50 

ATM 

1/10/2011 

$1,300 

Bank Teller WD 

1/11/2011 

$141.75 

ATM 

1/13/2011 

$203 

ATM 

1/19/2011 

$203 

ATM 

1/20/2011 

$142 

ATM 

1/24/2011 

$503 

ATM 

2/1/2011 

$600 

Bank Teller WD 

2/11/2011 

$500 

ATM 

2/14/2011 

$260 

ATM 

2/22/2011 

$100 

Bank Teller WD 

 

$503 

ATM 

 

$260 

ATM 

2/23/2011 

$182 

ATM 

2/28/2011 

$501.50 

ATM 

3/3/2011 

$263 

ATM 

3/8/2011 

$1,250 

Bank Teller WD 

3/10/2011 

$103 

ATM 

3/11/2011 

$200 

ATM 

 

$1,340 

Bank Teller WD 

3/14/2011 

$500 

ATM 

3/21/2011 

$101 

ATM 

 

$161 

ATM 

3/22/2011 

$41.50 

ATM 

3/28/2011 

$201.50 

ATM 

3/31/2011 

$253 

ATM 

4/1/2011 

$200 

ATM 

 

$260.75 

ATM 

4/15/2011 

$500 

Bank Teller WD 

4/18/2011 

$263 

ATM 

4/19/2011 

$303 

ATM 

4/20/2011 

$353 

ATM 

 

$25,010 

Bank Teller WD 



 
Cycle 2 – Contributions Omitted (5) 

Date 

Amount 

Contributor 

Note 

3/25/2011 

$400 

Unknown 

Cash deposit 

4/6/2011 

$500 

John McDaniel 

 

4/6/2011 

$1,000 

John McDaniel 

 

4/20/2011 

$10,000 

Progressive Agenda 

Cash deposit 

4/25/2011 

$1,000 

Obermayer, Rebmann, 
Maxwell, & Hippel 

Check #170419 




Cycle 3 Omissions (31) 
Cycle 3 – Check Expenditures Omitted (20) 

Date 

Amount 

Check No. 

Payee 

5/4/11 

$500 

1173 

Mike Tucker 

5/6/11 

$300 

1176 

DCC 

5/6/11 

$200 

1179 

27th Ward Democratic Committee 

5/9/11 

$1,000 

1183 

Mike Tucker 

5/10/11 

$925 

1188 

Philadelphia Sunday Sun 

5/10/11 

$925 

1193 

Philadelphia Sunday Sun 

5/10/11 

$500 

1189 

T. H. Massaro 

5/11/11 

$1,000 

1197 

Judy Denny McDaniel 

5/11/11 

$1,000 

1198 

Tiffanie Standard 

5/12/11 

$1,000 

1205 

Jaramogi Communications 

5/14/11 

$1,000 

1210 

Action PAC 

5/14/11 

$500 

1209 

Mike Taylor 

5/16/11 

$500 

1213 

Penny Lyons (?) 

5/16/11 

$500 

1219 

Tiffanie Standard 

5/16/11 

$900 

1204 

Neighborhood Leader 

5/5/2011 

$5,000 

1175 

John McDaniel 

5/11/2011 

$4,500 

1180 

John McDaniel 

5/13/2011 

$1,000 

1208 

John McDaniel 

5/18/2011 

$3,000 

1229 

John McDaniel 

5/20/2011 

$1,000 

1232 

John McDaniel 



 
Cycle 3 – Cash Withdrawal Expenditures Omitted (7) 

Date of withdrawal 

Amount 

Type 

5/3/2011 

$403 

ATM 

5/9/2011 

$250 

ATM 

5/10/2011 

$500 

ATM 

 

$201 

ATM 

5/23/2011 

$402.50 

ATM 

5/31/2011 

$302.50 

ATM 

6/6/2011 

$203 

ATM 



 
Cycle 3 – Contributions Omitted (4) 

Date 

Amount 

Contributor 

Note 

5/6/2011 

$100 

S. Bowser 

Deposited to BRB personal acct 

5/10/2011 

$50 

G. Harper 

Deposited to BRB personal acct 

5/13/2011 

$250 

C. McSweeney 

Deposited to BRB personal acct 

5/17/2011 

$1,000 

S. Booker 

Deposited to BRB personal acct 



 


 


 Cycle 5 Omissions (25) 
Cycle 5 – Cash Withdrawal Expenditures Omitted (14) 

Date 

Amount 

Type 

6/6/11 

$203.00 

ATM 

6/28/11 

$200.00 

ATM 

7/7/11 

$200.00 

ATM 

7/11/11 

$1,475.00 

Bank Teller WD 

7/28/11 

$203.75 

ATM 

8/12/11 

$63.50 

ATM 

8/17/11 

$62.50 

ATM 

8/22/11 

$122.75 

ATM 

8/25/11 

$122.00 

ATM 

8/25/11 

$202.95 

ATM 

8/29/11 

$160.00 

ATM 

9/22/11 

$101.75 

ATM 

10/21/11 

$400.00 

ATM 

10/24/11 

$102.50 

ATM 



 
Cycle 5 – Check Contributions Omitted (2) 

Date 

Payee 

Amount 

Notes 

6/23/11 

? 

$484.90 

Paypal Transfer 

8/8/11 

James Morse Jr. 

$100.00 

Ck# 1177 dated 6/26/11 



 
Cycle 5 – Cash Deposit Contributions Omitted (9) 

Date 

Amount 

6/14/11 

$5,000.00 

6/22/11 

$1,450.00 

6/27/11 

$1,000.00 

9/14/11 

$1,600.00 

9/30/11 

$450.00 

10/11/11 

$2,500.00 

10/11/11 

$500.00 

10/18/11 

$1,000.00 

10/18/11 

$500.00 



 



 Cycle 6 Omissions (15) 
Cycle 6 Check Expenditures Omitted (1) 

Date 

Payee 

Amount 

Check # 

11/1/11 

Tiffany Standard 

$290.00 

Ck# 1265 



 
Cycle 6 Cash Withdrawal Expenditures Omitted (12) 

Date 

Amount 

Type 

10/25/11 

$202.00 

ATM 

10/25/11 

$102.00 

ATM 

10/27/11 

$160.00 

ATM 

11/2/11 

$202.00 

ATM 

11/2/11 

$603.00 

Bank Teller WD 

11/7/11 

$1,800.00 

Bank Teller WD 

11/8/11 

$202.00 

ATM 

11/9/11 

$1,100.00 

Bank Teller WD 

11/10/11 

$1,500.00 

Bank Teller WD 

11/15/11 

$201.75 

ATM 

11/16/11 

$243.50 

ATM 

11/21/11 

$202.50 

ATM 



 
Cycle 6 Check Contributions Omitted (2) 

Date 

Payee 

Amount 

Check # 

11/28/11 

Evelyn Smalls 

$250.00 

Ck# 1158 

11/28/11 

Robert Archie 

$150.00 

WF Ck# 
1125141773 



 



 Cycle 7 Omissions (13) 
Cycle 7 Cash Withdrawal Expenditures Omitted (3) 

Date 

Amount 

Type 

12/7/11 

$588.00 

Bank Teller WD 

12/15/11 

$500.00 

ATM 

12/19/11 

$262.50 

ATM 



 
Cycle 7 Check Contributions Omitted (5) 

Date 

Payee 

Amount 

Check # 

12/14/11 

I.B.E.W - C.O.P.E 

$2,500.00 

Ck# 24701 

12/21/11 

Rosalyn McPherson 

$100.00 

Ck# 2270 

12/21/11 

Swanson Street Associates 

$100.00 

Ck# 501225 dated 11/8/11 

12/27/11 

Friends of Marion Tasco 

$4,000.00 

Ck# 5718 

12/21/11 

John McDaniel 

$550.00 

Ck# 2142 



 
Cycle 7 Debts Omitted (5) 

Creditor 

Amount 

Date 

Soapbox Solutions 

$4,750.00 

7/1/2011 

Soapbox Solutions 

$1,331.82 

7/1/2011 

Soapbox Solutions 

$4,535.00 

7/1/2011 

Flaster Greenberg 

$1,545.00 

10/14/2011 

Friends of Marion Tasco 

$4,000.00 

12/27/11