City Court Employee Charged with Fraud Scheme That Bilked City of More Than $400,000

PHILADELPHIA—William Rullo, 47, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the First Judicial District (“the District”) of Pennsylvania, where he was employed between 1999 and 2010, by making illegal purchases, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams. It is alleged that Rullo used his position as a procurement technician in the Procurement Department of the District to enrich himself, his family, and his friends while costing the city of Philadelphia approximately $433,000.

As a procurement technician, Rullo’s job duties included: placing orders with vendors, purchasing courtroom electronic and other goods for the District, using a District credit card to make purchases, and getting approval from a District judge or director of Administrative Services before submitting invoices to the Accounts Payable Department. According to the information, between January 2005 and March 2010, Rullo used his District credit card to make approximately $321,000 in purchases for his own benefit. Among those credit card purchases were approximately $1,300 in SEPTA transit tokens that he resold to a co-worker for between $650 and $750, telling the co-worker he had bought them at a discount. It is further alleged that between July 2008 and August 2009, Rullo forged signatures of First Judicial District judges and the director of Administrative Services on invoices. With those forged invoices, Rullo was able to purchase items for his own use with First Judicial District funds. For example, it is alleged that Rullo purchased 36 plasma and LCD televisions totaling more than $65,000. It is further alleged that between December 1999 and March 2010, Rullo purchased monthly service for eight AT&T cell phones that he provided to his family and friends at a cost to the First Judicial District of approximately $12,000. It is further alleged that between July 2005 and March 2010, Rullo purchased approximately $35,000 in monthly parking passes, which he then resold to friends and co-workers for approximately $100 per monthly pass.

For the purpose of executing the fraud scheme, Rullo allegedly caused a First Judicial District check, in the amount of $6,269, to be sent by U.S. mail from the First Judicial District to Arch Electronics to pay for electronic equipment ordered by Rullo for his own personal use and benefit.

If convicted, defendant Rullo faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and possible restitution to the First Judicial District.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, the First Judicial District, and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney William Inden.

An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.