PHILADELPHIA – Six current and former Philadelphia traffic court judges have been charged with fixing tickets for friends and political allies, in a sweeping federal indictment that also charges three suburban judges, a court clerk and two businessmen.
The defendants include former traffic judge Willie Singletary, who had been kicked out of office for showing cellphone photos of his genitals to a female clerk.
His lawyer says Singletary and several other judges surrendered to the FBI Thursday morning. They are due in court Thursday afternoon.
Lawyer William J. Brennan says Singletary never took a dime from anyone.
The 77-count indictment charges three judges with lying to the grand jury and Singletary with lying to the FBI.
Federal officials allege "a widespread culture of giving breaks on traffic citations to friends, family, the politically-connected and business associates."
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