A Philadelphia Traffic Court judge was indicted by federal authorities on Thursday in connection with filing false tax returns, and a scheme to defraud the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Traffic Court Judge Robert Mulgrew, 54, Lorraine Dispaldo, 58, and Mulgrew’s wife, Elizabeth, 55, were arrested Thursday morning. According to United States Attorney Zane Memeger, Mulgrew and Dispaldo, an administrative aide to a Pennsylvania state representative, were charged with multiple counts of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently receive and misuse state grant funds awarded to nonprofit groups. Mulgrew and Dispaldo allegedly spent thousands of dollars of grant funds for their own personal uses. Mulgrew and his wife are also charged with five counts of filing false joint personal income tax returns for tax years 2006 through 2010, one count of tax evasion for 2005, and obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws.
If convicted of all charges, Mulgrew faces a maximum possible sentence of over 100 years in prison; five years’ supervised release, a $9.5 million fine, and a $3,800 assessment.
Penis injection fatal, woman faces charges
Law enforcement authorities in Essex County, New Jersey said that a woman has been freed on $75,000 bail pending an investigation into the death of a man who received a silicon penis injection from the defendant.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor, Carolyn Murray and East Orange Police Chief William Robinson said that Kasia N. Rivera, 34, of East Orange, N. J. was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Justin Street, 22, also of East Orange.
According to Murray, on May 5, 2011, Street went to Rivera's home in the 300 block of Glenwood Avenue where he received a silicon injection in his penis. The next day he was dead from a silicon embolism and the medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. Rivera has been charged with manslaughter and the unauthorized practice of medicine. The investigation into the case in continuing and officials suspect there may be other victims of Rivera who have not yet come forward.
2 veteran police officers arrested
Law enforcement authorities said that a veteran Philadelphia police lieutenant and a patrol officer have been arrested in connection with accusations they stole thousands of dollars worth of public utilities.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Lt. Aisha Perry, 53, and Officer George Suarez, 54, are accused of siphoning off electricity, water, and gas service from PECO, the Philadelphia Gas Works, and the Philadelphia Water Department. They have been charged with multiple counts of theft of services, conspiracy, and risking a catastrophe. The two have been suspended for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.
According to investigators, Perry had been under investigation regarding the thefts for over a year.
SWAT officer hit by friendly fire
A SWAT officer is in stable condition after he was struck by friendly gunfire in North Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Investigators said the incident happened just before 10 p.m. in the vicinity of Broad and Parrish streets when two officers stopped a vehicle with three male passengers at a BP gas station. The officers were flagged by a woman who said the men had threatened her with a gun. Police stopped the vehicle to question the men when one of the pointed a gun at Jose Roman, 44.
Officer Roman’s partner fired his shotgun, striking one of the suspects, who were still inside the vehicle. Roman’s life was saved because he was wearing body armor. He was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital and later released. Investigators believe Roman was struck by ricochet from the shotgun blast.
