Defendants in the Sting Case
Vanessa Lowery Brown was the only Democratic elected official of the six from Philadelphia who were implicated in the sting investigation to bring her case to trial. The others pleaded guilty or no contest to charges of violating the state conflict-of-interest law. Under plea deals, the five were spared prison terms but had to resign their elected positions. All but Thomasine Tynes were able to keep their government pensions.
Here are the pleas or verdicts in their cases, and the gifts prosecutors say the defendants received from an undercover operative. Their titles reflect positions held at the time of the sting.
Found
guilty
Guilty pleas
No-contest
Thomasine Tynes
Harold James
Ronald Waters
Michelle Brownlee
Louise Williams Bishop
Vanessa Lowery Brown
Former president judge, Phila. Traffic Court
Former state representative
State representative
State representative
State representative
State representative
$2,000 Tiffany bracelet
$750 in money orders
$2,000 in payments
Nine payments totaling $8,750
Three payments totaling $1,500
Five payments totaling $4,000
23 months in prison*
12 months’ probation
23 months’
probation
18 months’ probation
6 months’ probation
* Was served concurrently with a two-year federal prison term in an unrelated case
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist
Defendants in the
Sting Case
Vanessa Lowery Brown was the only Democratic elected official of the six from Philadelphia who were implicated in the sting investigation to bring her case to trial. The others pleaded guilty or no contest to charges of violating the state conflict-of-interest law. Under plea deals, the five were spared prison terms but had to resign their elected positions. All but Thomasine Tynes were able to keep their government pensions.
Here are the pleas or verdicts in their cases, and the gifts prosecutors say the defendants received from an undercover operative. Their titles reflect positions held at the time of the sting.
Guilty pleas
Thomasine Tynes
Former president judge, Phila. Traffic Court
Gift: $2,000 Tiffany bracelet
Sentence: 23 months in prison, which was served concurrently with a two-year federal prison term in an unrelated case
Harold James
Former state representative
Gift: $750 in money orders
Sentence: 12 months’ probation
Ronald Waters
State representative
Gifts: Nine payments totaling $8,750
Sentence: 23 months’ probation
Michelle Brownlee
State representative
Gift: $2,000 in payments
Sentence:18 months’ probation
No-contest plea
Louise Williams Bishop
State representative
Gifts: Three payments totaling $1,500
Sentence: 6 months’ probation
Found guilty
Vanessa Lowery Brown
State representative
Gifts: Five payments totaling $4,000
JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist