Sting Probe Of Philadelphia Politicians Yields Another Guilty Plea
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) --- For the second time in a week, a Dauphin County judge has accepted a guilty plea from a Democratic Philadelphia elected official caught in a sting investigation. State Representative Michelle Brownlee was sentenced to 18 months probation after pleading guilty Monday.
The guilty plea to one count of conflict of interest entered by Michelle Brownlee comes just a week after guilty pleas from Representative Ronald Waters and former lawmaker Harold James. Like Waters, Brownlee has now resigned her office.
Assistant Philadelphia DA Mark Gilson says Brownlee was introduced to an informant by another politically active figure. Gilson says that's how the sting operated… with the informant being passed from one political figure to another.
"That's how he came to meet them," he says. "They passed him amongst themselves, as a person who was freely giving away money."
The sting investigation was shut down by Attorney General Kathleen Kane but revived by Philadelphia DA Seth Williams. Four guilty pleas have resulted, two other cases are pending.