PHILADELPHIA - William Mackey, 49, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Legrome D. Davis also ordered Mackey to pay $142,000 in restitution and ordered three years supervised release. Mackey must report to prison October 15, 2012.

Mackey headed a non-profit called City-Wide Youth Leadership Agency in North Philadelphia. City-Wide received City of Philadelphia grants that were to be financially administered by third party nonprofits designated as City-Wide's “fiscal agents.” In imposing sentence, Judge Davis noted that the defendant “had failed with the mantle of leadership.”

In 2007, Mackey cashed a check payable to a former fiscal agent knowing that neither he nor City-Wide had any right to the money. The $24,000 check from the School District of Philadelphia had been mistakenly sent to City-Wide. The cashing of this check was part of an on-going scheme in which Mackey knowingly passed bad checks, cashed checks written to other businesses and non-profits, counterfeited checks and stole money by writing unauthorized checks, to obtain goods, services and money for himself and his organization. He also failed to pay for services that he or City-Wide received.

Between 2006 and 2009, Mackey negotiated, attempted or aided in the negotiation of approximately $157,000 in fraudulent checks and wire transfers, and caused losses in excess of approximately $180,000. He pleaded guilty in September 2011.

The case was investigated by the FBI, and by the City of Philadelphia, including the District Attorney's Office, the Inspector General's Office and the Mayor's Integrity Office. It is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Foa and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Inden.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525

 

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