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