Feds seek lengthy prison terms for Traffic Court judges

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

Federal prosecutors are seeking substantial prison terms for four former Philadelphia Traffic Court judges convicted by a jury of lying, following a lengthy trial on "ticket-fixing" allegations.

In sentencing memos filed Wednesday for Michael Lowry, Robert Mulgrew, Willie Singletary and Thomasine Tynes, prosecutors say they will ask for prison sentences of a year or more above sentencing guideline ranges.

A jury in July acquitted the four of fraud charges, but convicted them of perjury before a grand jury or making false statements to the FBI.

Prosecutors contend that by convicting the four of lying, the jury found that the judges "gave preferential treatment to [ticket-holders] who were politically and personally connected to the judges and their cronies."

In an opinion filed earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Stengel also said the judges fixed tickets. "The evidence at trial demonstrated very clearly that defendants were influenced by 'extrajudicial communications' when reaching their decisions on select tickets. In short, they and their colleagues were 'fixing tickets,' " Stengel wrote.

Government means corruption: plain and simple.