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Former Judge Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Joseph C. Waters, Jr., 61, a former Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge, pleaded guilty today to using his judicial position to influence the outcome of two cases in the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
According to documents filed in the case, on September 30, 2011, Waters was asked by Person #1, a politically active business owner, to use his judicial office to achieve a favorable outcome in a small claims case filed in Philadelphia Municipal Court against Person #1’s real estate management company.
To that end, Waters called two other Municipal Court judges, assigned to the case on different dates, and asked them to rule in Person #1’s favor. A Municipal Court Judge identified in the information as Judge #2 ultimately adjudicated the case in favor of Person #1 after Waters told Judge #2 “he’s a friend of mine.”
The information charges that Judge #2’s ruling in favor of Person #1’s company prevented the plaintiff in the small claims case, Company B, from collecting $2733 in unpaid fees owed to it for security services it delivered to Person #1’s company.
Waters admitted today that he gave Person #1 a secret advantage through a series of secret ex parte communications with other Municipal Court judges scheduled to hear the small claims case and used his position to cause favorable rulings for Person #1.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Chief of the Public Corruption Unit Richard P. Barrett and Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan. U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez scheduled a sentencing hearing for January 22, 2015. Waters faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000 and up to three years of supervised release.
This case is a reminder that corruption has no place in our justice system and that those who abuse their power will be held accountable.
Joseph C. Waters, Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2015. He will face a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000 and up to three years of supervised release if convicted.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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