Jury deliberations expected to begin Wednesday in trial of Philly councilman, wife

The couple was charged in 2020 with a variety of racketeering conspiracy and associated crimes, together with bribery, trustworthy providers fraud, a number of counts of wire fraud, and tax offenses.

Federal prosecutors allege the couple was provided greater than $66,000 in bribes disguised as consulting work for Chavous.

Closing arguments set to start in trial of Philadelphia councilman, spouse

Common Houses chief government officer and board president Abdur Rahim Islam and secretary of Common’s board Shahied Dawan have been additionally named within the indictment.

Prosecutors allege the consulting contract was a “sham” in a “pay to play” scheme and Johnson accepted the bribes in return for political favors associated to an actual property improvement venture in Johnson’s district involving the Royal Theater.

The federal authorities alleges Johnson launched an ordinance in 2014 to rezone the theater as a political favor to Common, which was paying Johnson’s spouse.
On Tuesday morning, U.S. Assistant Lawyer Mark Dubnoff introduced his last arguments stating, “Maybe Ms. Chavous labored laborious for different shoppers, however she hardly labored for Common.”

Dubnoff added, “She was being paid $1,660 an hour from a nonprofit that had posted 24 months of losses. Who pays that sort of cash? Criminals. That is who.”

Every of the 4 defendants within the case are retaining their very own attorneys.

After last arguments from the prosecution, an legal professional for Islam introduced his last arguments retaining his shopper’s innocence, stating there was no relationship between the hiring of Chavous and requesting Johnson current the rezoning ordinance.
Of the federal authorities’s timeline alleging when the bribery would have occurred, Johnson’s legal professional Patrick Egan stated, “The issue is there is no proof to help that story. None. Not one single shred.”

All the shoppers have maintained that they’re harmless. They every withstand 40 years in jail if convicted.

The choose is anticipated to cost the jury to start deliberating Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.