Sentencings set for two figures in Allentown pay-to-play scandal
Sentencings have been scheduled for later this month for two former Allentown officials who pleaded guilty in a pay-to-play scheme to steer taxpayer-funded contracts to former Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s political supporters.
The sentencings — Nov. 27 for former finance director Garret Strathearn, and Nov. 28 for former assistant solicitor Dale Wiles — will come nearly two years after each pleaded guilty, implicating Pawlowski in a plan to steer a tax collection contract to a company whose principals supported Pawlowski’s campaign fund.
They will also mark the start of the final phase of the case that began in 2013 with an undercover FBI investigation into suspected corruption in the Lehigh Valley and became public when agents raided City Hall in 2015. Out of 10 people who pleaded guilty before Pawlowski’s July 2017 indictment, eight, including Strathearn and Wiles, have been waiting to receive their punishments.
Wiles and Strathearn are both scheduled to be sentenced at the U.S. courthouse in Philadelphia, according to orders issued Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez.
With Pawlowski’s conviction in March and sentencing last month to 15 years in federal prison on 38 corruption-related convictions, prosecutors now can say whether the cooperation of witnesses such as Strathearn and Wiles was satisfactory. Most of those who took early plea deals did so under the condition that prosecutors would recommend a reduced sentence if they continued to assist authorities.
Sentencing for some, however, could be delayed until early next year, as one of the prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Wzorek, tries an unrelated drug trafficking case that is expected to last up to 11 weeks. Last week, Sanchez issued an order directing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to notify his chambers when Wzorek’s trial is concluded so that Sanchez can schedule sentencing for developer Ramzi Haddad.
Haddad pleaded guilty to making contributions to Pawlowski to get favorable treatment in city hall. His attorney, Barry Gross, said it’s routine in cases with cooperating witnesses for the prosecutor who actually called and questioned the witness to participate in sentencing. That allows the prosecutor to make a statement about the quality of the witness’ assistance to authorities. Wzorek also questioned former Allentown Managing Director Francis Dougherty, who testified that Pawlowski became obsessed with raising money for his abandoned U.S. Senate campaign. Dougherty’s sentencing has not been scheduled.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Morgan questioned Wiles, although he was called by Pawlowski’s defense attorney and not by prosecutors. She also questioned Strathearn about his role in changing scores for companies that submitted proposals to collect the city’s delinquent property taxes. Her direct examination included a line of questioning about whether a delivery of meatballs from Pawlowski’s campaign manager Mike Fleck was a bribe.
Wiles and Strathearn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, which carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine, although their sentences are likely to be much shorter. Prosecutors and their attorneys will make their recommendations in filings before sentencing.
Federal sentencing guidelines take into account factors such as the lack of a prior criminal record, acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with investigators to guide judges in issuing appropriate prison terms.
Still awaiting sentencing dates are Fleck, Haddad, Dougherty, former Controller Mary Ellen Koval, and engineers Matthew McTish and Mark Neisser.
Pawlowski and his co-defendant, Allentown lawyer Scott Allinson, who was sentenced to 27 months in prison for conspiracy and bribery, are appealing.