Developer Ramzi Haddad pleads guilty in connection with Allentown FBI investigation
An Allentown developer pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bribery and other counts in the first charges filed in connection with an ongoing FBI investigation in Allentown, according to a news release.
Ramzi Haddad, a developer with properties in Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone and the city's east side, has been charged by the same prosecutors that oversaw a July 2 raid of Allentown City Hall. He was among the people and businesses named on a subpoena served on the day of that raid that asked for documents relating to contracts and campaign donations.
According to federal documents, Haddad conspired to bribe a person identified in court documents as "Public Official #3" with campaign donations in exchange for "certain official actions." The official is described in the documents as an official seeking federal office who announced his candidacy on April 17.
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on April 17. Neither Pawlowski nor his attorney Jack McMahon could be immediately reached for comment.
more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-fbi-ramzi-haddad-charge-20150910-story.html
