Councilman’s Former Aide Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Honest Services Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 10, 2009 |
PHILADELPHIA—Christopher Wright, 45, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, honest services mail fraud, and mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Michael L. Levy. Wright was serving as chief of staff to a Philadelphia city council member when he committed his crimes, using his official position with city council to give special treatment to two others, co-defendants Ravinder Chawla and attorney Andrew Teitelman, in exchange for approximately $16,000 in cash and other gifts, such as free legal services from Teitelman.
In rendering his sentence, United States District Court Judge Eduardo Robreno said the public trust was violated. Sentencing for Ravinder Chawla is scheduled for September 1, 2009. Sentencing for Andrew Teitelman is scheduled for September 2, 2009.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Bresnick and Jennifer Arbittier Williams.