Posted on 09/19/2005 2:26:03 PM PDT by velocityguy
Philly Cleric Sentenced for Corruption
By JOANN LOVIGLIO, Associated Press Writer Mon Sep 19, 2:12 PM ET
A prominent Muslim cleric on Monday was sentenced to more than seven years in prison on racketeering and other charges, the latest in a string of convictions stemming from the FBI's sweeping probe of municipal corruption.
Prosecutors said that Shamsud-din Ali, 67, used his political connections to obtain dubious loans, donations and city contracts. In addition to his 87-month sentence, Ali was ordered to pay restitution. He was released pending an appeal.
The investigation of the so-called "pay to play" culture in Philadelphia's city government has led to the convictions and guilty pleas for more than a dozen people, including a former city treasurer, two bank executives and several business owners seeking city contracts.
The probe became public when police discovered an FBI bug in Mayor John F. Street's office. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Ali, the leader of a west Philadelphia mosque, was charged with 34 counts. After six days of deliberations, jurors convicted him in June of 22 counts, including racketeering.
According to prosecutors, he and his wife, Faridah, used the Muslim school they ran as a private piggy bank, soliciting donations and public education funds for adult education classes that were never held. The Alis had at least five family members on the payroll, including two adult children who lived out of state.
Faridah Ali was convicted and sentenced to a year of house arrest on related charges.
heating = cheating
Have they told him yet that when he gets to prison he becomes on of the 72 virgins for a guy on his cell block?
lol!
That was a good one!!
Agreed. The sentence was too light.
More RESPECTABLE scum of the earth.
My bet is this clown is a native born black Muslim. I'm so sure I'm not even going to run him through google.
Home grown or imported Muslim?
Looks like this is a home grown guy....
This criminal scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars.
He is a slimey con artist. The schools started up by these con artists have to be double checked by honest authorites. That means Mayor Street and his crew of nitwits out. This man should be in jail for years. His family members should be in jail. They are all crooks.
PA: Philly (Muslim) cleric sentenced for corruption (87 months, currently FRee on appeal) ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1487433/posts
Bump
philly cleric or filthy cleric
philly cleric or filthy cleric
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.