FORMER NORRISTOWN, PA. MAYOR FOUND GUILTY
April
17, 2006- PHILADELPHIA
– United States Attorney Pat Meehan announced today that former Norristown
mayor Ted LeBlanc has been found guilty of honest services fraud, bribery, bank
fraud, and tax charges. The jury deliberated for a little more than four hours
following a six-day trial. These convictions are the culmination of a two-year
investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Fort Washington office of the
F.B.I., the Pennsylvania State Police, and the I.R.S. Criminal Investigation
Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Zack and
Paul Gray.
LeBlanc, a republican, accepted a $10,000 bribe from borough insurance agent
Herbert Bagley in exchange for LeBlanc insuring that Bagley (who is charged
with paying a bribe to LeBlanc) continued to be appointed the borough’s
insurance broker. Bagley was in danger of losing his contract because his business
partner had been charged in state court with stealing hundreds of thousands
of dollars of borough insurance payments in late 2002. During 2003 and 2004,
Bagley received more than $400,000 in fees and commissions from the borough.
"Today's verdict is a victory for the people of Norristown," said Meehan. "Public officials have been granted authority to do things like select vendors to provide goods and services, to sign contracts, and supervise municipal departments. But with that authority comes responsibility. You are representing the people. It is their business you are conducting. It is their interest you should be protecting. In this case, Ted LeBlanc chose to serve his own interests and now he will face the consequences."
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*An Indictment or Information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Benjamin Franklin Photo by B. Krist for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation