Ex-Philly Official Cuffed in $225K Corruption Scam

Desiree Peterkin-Bell, a former high-ranking official in ex-Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration, is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly looting more than $225,000 in taxpayer funds meant for public events. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges on November 13, 2018, accusing Peterkin-Bell of brazenly siphoning money through a city-linked nonprofit, the Fund for Philadelphia, to bankroll a luxury lifestyle while falsifying records to cover her tracks.

Between January 2013 and December 2015, Peterkin-Bell, serving as City Representative, allegedly ran up over $20,000 in fraudulent charges on two credit cards tied to the nonprofit. Investigators found receipts for stays at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, flights to Brooklyn and Portland, dinners at Capital Grille and The Palm, and even payments for Uber rides for her daughter and babysitter. She also charged shopping sprees at Macy’s Center City and paid for services to inflate her Twitter following—expenses with zero connection to city business.

The grand jury uncovered a deeper layer of theft: Peterkin-Bell allegedly diverted $225,000 in public funds designated for the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic—a major civic event—toward unrelated debts tied to other city contracts she helped manage. The move not only violated fiscal law but sabotaged a program meant to boost city visibility and community engagement, replacing public service with personal payoff.

As the Nutter administration neared its end, Peterkin-Bell allegedly crossed another line. On December 28, 2015, she used the Fund’s credit card to throw a lavish launch party for her future consulting business. The event, held at a local hotel, included 17 plated dinners, premium wine, and a dedicated bartender—totaling $1,699 in taxpayer-backed charges. Staff at the Fund were directed to supply the card under false pretenses, according to grand jury testimony.

“This is a case of a high-ranking public official using her office to enrich herself and abuse the public trust,” Attorney General Shapiro declared. “These funds were supposed to be invested in Philadelphia and programs which benefit its citizens. Instead, Desiree Peterkin-Bell funded her own lavish lifestyle… and falsified records to cover it all up.” His office emphasized that such corruption would be pursued relentlessly, regardless of political connections.

Peterkin-Bell now faces charges including conflict of interest, tampering with public records, and multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor theft. The case, stemming from the Forty-first Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, highlights systemic vulnerabilities in oversight of municipal funds. As the legal process moves forward, the message from Harrisburg is clear: stealing from the public purse carries a steep price.

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