City Dispatcher And Three Tow Truck Operators Charged In Bribery Conspiracy

PHILADELPHIA – An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging four people, including a Philadelphia Police Department (“PPD”) dispatcher, in a conspiracy to give an unfair advantage to certain tow truck operators in exchange for bribes, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Dorian Parsley, 44, of Philadelphia, Stepfon Flowers, 24, of Philadelphia, William Cheeseman, 42, of Delran, NJ, and Chad Harris, 22, of Philadelphia, are charged with conspiracy and bribery.  Parsley, who was the dispatcher, and Flowers, are also charged with honest services fraud.

According to the indictment, between February 2011 and December 2013, Parsley used her position as a civilian radio dispatcher to provide confidential police information, such as locations of automobile accidents, locations of PPD squad cars, and vehicle registration information, to tow truck operators who provided her with cash bribe payments. Stepfon Flowers, who worked for K&B Autocraft in Philadelphia, allegedly paid Parsley $100 to $150, weekly, for the confidential information.

In September 2012, the indictment alleges, Flowers connected William Cheeseman, an owner of K&B Auto Body, with Parsley so that Cheeseman could also receive the confidential police information in exchange for cash bribe payments.  In April 2013, Chad Harris, a tow truck driver for K&B Auto Body, also received Parsley’s contact information allegedly for the same purpose.  According to the indictment, Parsley would surreptitiously text information that came into PPD dispatch from her personal cellphone directly to those tow truck operators.  For an additional cash fee, Parsley allegedly agreed to provide certain tow truck operators with the name and address of a vehicle owner by running the license plate and vehicle registration through the PPD dispatch computer.  PPD computers automatically access the National Crime Information Center (“NCIC”) located in West Virginia when a vehicle registration was inputted.

Flowers allegedly collected some of the weekly bribe payments for Parsley.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chun Barry.

Click here to view the indictment

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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