Former Sheriff of Philadelphia Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Public

The former Sheriff of Philadelphia John Green was sentenced last week to serve five years in prison followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $76,581. Green accepted several hidden personal benefits from a co-defendant in exchange for providing the co-defendant with millions of dollars of business through the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Department of Justice release, “From 2002 to 2011, Green accepted hidden bribes and kickbacks from his co-defendant Davis totaling over $675,000.  The bribes and kickbacks that Davis gave to Green included: (1) a move-in ready home in Philadelphia for Green and his new wife in 2003, with rent-free living and then Green’s purchase of the home at a discount; (2) employment of Green’s new wife as a subcontractor when she started a new business in 2004, paying her over $89,000, and being the primary and at times sole employer of Green’s wife; (3) facilitation of over $65,000 in hidden campaign contributions to Green’s 2007 re-election campaign through others; (4) payment of over $148,000 in advertising for Green’s 2007 re-election campaign and falsely reporting the payments on the campaign finance reports; and (5) over $320,000 in payments to Green to assist him with the purchase of his retirement home in Florida in 2010.”

Green gave his co-defendant, James Davis, over $35 million of business at the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office in the sale of homes at sheriff’s sales.

Green was in office until the end of 2010, one year before the expiration of his term. Green’s departure followed an audit report issued by the city’s Office of the Controller detailing concerns about potential irregularities with respect to the funds held by the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office relating to Sheriff’s sales.

A subsequent forensic investigation by Deloitte Financial Advisory Services (hired by the Office of the Controller) revealed the extent of the hidden business that Green had given to co-defendant Davis. Deloitte finalized the report in October 2011 and provided its findings to the government. 

The case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the City of Philadelphia Office of Inspector General. 

Green pleaded guilty in April 2019. 

“This type of corruption erodes the faith of citizens in the city's ability to function and causes people to question the honesty, integrity and efficiency of how the city is run,” said City of Philadelphia Inspector General Amy L. Kurland.  “This case was especially significant to the city and this sentence sends a strong message that we will not tolerate employees or officials using their positions to enhance their own wealth at the taxpayers’ expense.”