PHILADELPHIA -
A federal grand jury indictment involving several traffic court judges has been unsealed.
The three indictments and two criminal informations released to the public Thursday are the result of a federal investigation that took at least 18 months.
FOX 29's Dave Schratwieser reported that what's alleged is a widespread scheme that included traffic judges, business owners and administration. They're accused of fixing tickets.
The judges involved in the case are from Chester, Bucks, Philadelphia and Delaware counties, Schratwieser reported.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. on the indictments.
Violations alleged in the case include wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, perjury, false statements to FBI as well as aiding and abetting.
Three judges are accused of perjuring themselves before a federal grand jury during the course of the investigation, Schratwieser reported. Two others allegedly lied to the FBI, and still others are accused of using code words and shredding documents.
The defendants include: Michael Sullivan, 49, of Philadelphia; Michael Lowry, 58, of Philadelphia; Robert Mulgrew, 56, of Philadelphia; Willie Singletary, 32, of Philadelphia; Thomasine Tynes, 70, of Philadelphia; Mark A. Bruno, 50, of West Chester; William Hird, 68, of Philadelphia; Henry "Ed" P. Alfano, 68, of New Jersey; and Robert Moy, 56, of Philadelphia.
Counts in the indictment include wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, perjury, false statements to FBI as well as aiding and abetting.
Charged in the information were: H. Warren Hogeland; Kenneth Miller; and Fortunato N. Perri Sr.
FOX 29 News first told you about the FBI investigation way back in 2011, when judges houses were raided.
On Thursday morning, cameras spotted former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary turning himself in at FBI headquarters around 8:20 a.m. He was with his lawyer.
Singletary was already removed from the court due to some personal indiscretions that were separate from this matter. He was accused of showing photos of his genitals to a female clerk.
The defendants appeared this afternoon in federal court before a magistrate.
A Supreme Court report on traffic court that came out last September said this was a rampant ticket-fixing situation, and that there were two paths – one for the politically connected, and one for everybody else, all of the other drivers who have to show up in court, pay fines and pay increased insurance rates after getting points on their licenses.
Schratwieser filed a video report Thursday morning from Center City for "Good Day."
We'll have more on this case tonight on the FOX 29 News.
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