A former Bucks County official has pleaded guilty to money laundering and extortion charges in Pennsylvania.
Robert P. Hoopes, 71, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right.
Hoopes, the former Director of Public Safety in Lower Southampton Township, had authority over all police, fire, and emergency operations in the township from February 2016 until December 2016.
Between 2014 and 2016, Hoopes solicited, extorted, and attempted to extort bribes and kickbacks from individuals and businesses in exchange for his influence over Lower Southampton Township’s Board of Supervisors, Solicitor, officers, and employees.
For example, Hoopes solicited bribe payments from Robert A. DeGoria, who was then the vice-president of an outdoor advertising company, in exchange for offering his influence to reduce lease payments that the company owed to Lower Southampton Township.
In November 2016, Hoopes and co-defendant Bernard T. Rafferty, who was then a Deputy Constable in Bucks County, accepted a bribe of $1,000, as well as the promise of other fees, in exchange for Hoopes and Rafferty using their positions as public officials to “fix” a traffic case in Bucks County Magisterial District Court.
Hoopes faces a maximum possible sentence of 100 years in federal prison for his crimes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.
Hoopes’ guilty plea is the latest in a series of convictions related to public corruption in Bucks County. Several other officials, including co-defendants Bernard T. Rafferty and Kevin M. Biederman, have also pleaded guilty to various charges.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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