A federal judge yesterday sentenced former Philadelphia treasurer Corey Kemp to 10 years in prison, ordered him to pay $334,000 in restitution, and fined him $10,000 following his May conviction in a pay-to-play case involving city municipal underwriting and other charges.
The punishment U.S. District Court Judge Michael Baylson handed down went above federal sentencing guidelines and beyond the eight-year sentence that prosecutors recommended.
The deterrence aspect of this case is very important, Baylson told Kemp in court, according to a Bloomberg News report. You deserve a lengthy sentence. You had so much potential. You have only yourself to blame.
Baylson revoked Kemps bail and he was immediately taken into custody.
Kemps attorney L. George Parry said he had always expected Baylson to impose a sentence longer than the guidelines suggested.
You could see this coming from way off, Parry said. This judge made it clear that he was highly offended by what he perceived Kemps actions to have been. I knew he was going to impose a very harsh sentence. And I think this qualifies as a very harsh sentence under the circumstances.
Parry said he would appeal the verdict on Kemps behalf. Parry said he would raise about 20 different issues on appeal, the most important of which is Baylsons decision to remove a juror after deliberations were already underway, and his questioning of other jurors in connection with that incident.
Kemp was found guilty of multiple counts of honest services fraud, attempted extortion, filing false tax returns for the years 2000 to 2004, and other charges. Honest services fraud involves public officials surrendering their responsibilities in exchange for benefits to which they are not entitled.
Prosecutors argued at trial that Kemp essentially sold himself and his office to the late Ronald White, a politically active local bond attorney. According to prosecutors, White bribed and paid Kemp in exchange for awarding city contracts to companies and firms he represented. White was charged along with Kemp in the governments indictment but died before the case went to trial.
Baylson on Monday sentenced Janice Renee Knight to five-and-a-half months in prison and her ordered to pay a fine of $100,000. Prosecutors had sought a 15- to 21-month sentence for Knight.
Also convicted with Kemp and Knight was La-Van Hawkins, a Detroit businessman, and two Commerce Bank executives Glenn Holck and Stephen Umbrell. According to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office, Hawkins is to be sentenced next month, and Holck and Umbrell are to be sentenced in October.
Former J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. professionals Charles LeCroy and Anthony Snell pleaded guilty to charges related to the governments prosecution. LeCroy was sentenced to 90 days in prison; Snell was sentenced to 90 days house arrest.
