A Philadelphia parole officer may find himself on parole one day soon, after he was arrested today for allegedly taking bribes from parolees to look the other way on drug tests, or just not administer them at all.
The state Attorney General's Office said Kenneth Dupree, 46, was arrested today on charges of public corruption, bribery and extortion, following an investigation by a state grand jury.
Dupree allegedly accepted cash bribes from parolees under his supervision, and in one case, tried to get three slabs of Corian countertops valued at about $30,000 from a parolee who worked at a countertop store, according to a news release.
The Attorney General's Office said Dupree took and solicited the bribes from parolees in exchange for ignoring, or just not giving, required drug tests. He also allegedley allowed parolees to remain free when they should have been locked up for violations.
"Dupree used his position and power as a parole agent to engage in a systematic pattern of grossly inappropriate and illegal conduct with state parolees," the Attorney General's Office said in a statement.
Wish I had him when I was on parole...— elfman- So he ripped off criminals? The only problem I have is he went to far with the counter tops. Not sure why companies hire POS to work for them— TallT1973
- Doesn't he know only elected officials are allow to take bribes, and only if they come from wealthy executives from big businesses????— GreenOrangeRedBlueBlood
- Is he still available to enter the drop Program?— bearsfriend
- he also took a bribe of Corinthian Leather form an upholsterer.— Don Cornelius
- He's underwhelmed throughout his "career".— Roger Podacter
- Can we only hire people who have some idea what right and wrong is, going forward? Thanks AG and Grand Jury. You are cleaning up Philly.— CleanupPhilly
- Dupree should have been happy with Formica.— PurpleHaze70
- Dupree should have been happy with Formica.— PurpleHaze70
- It should be noted that he is a STATE Parole agent, employed by the STATE not the city of Philadelphia...he is not Philadelphia Probation/Parole. He is not eligible for drop!— cynmoe
- First the director of parole in the city Even Dennis Powell was found to be a fugitive and now this, wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg. Wouldnt it be the best if they were able to share a cell together at Graterford with all the convicts they used to supervise. Karma is a wonderful thing! A big hand to those who are coming forward with the information leading to these arrests, keep up the great work.— gottaloveit
- Are Fugitives allowed to carry firearms? If not, what is the AG's office doing about him? — Karma 101
- It puzzles me to see them (the AG office) expose the little man but cover up the works of the Board's Bonnie and Clyde team (management). They actually let them keep their retirement perks, how about starting the STOP program.— still standing firm
- I agree! Why did under the desk Bonnie and fugitive Clyde keep their perks?
— Karma 101 - I pity any agent who comes forward in that agency. That agency makes the Philly cops look like angels. Why doesn't Ramsey say something about this stuff?— indisputable
Dana DiFilippo has covered murder, mayhem and miscellany at the Daily News since 2000. She grew up in Delaware County and studied journalism and photography at Penn State University. E-mail tips to difilid@phillynews.com.
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Stephanie Farr has been reporting for the Daily News since 2007, covering everything from gay porn stars who entered the burglary business to moon trees, skinheads, murders and naked bike rides. She covers crime, both in the city and suburbs, and keeps clippings of bizarre Associated Press articles. Her favorite this year was the story about the drunk in Punxsutawney who gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a dead opossum. E-mail tips to farrs@phillynews.com.
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Phillip Lucas joined the Daily News crime team in 2011. He grew up on the mean streets of Seattle and studied journalism and psychology at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Before landing in the City of Brotherly Love, Phillip was a reporter for The News Journal in Wilmington, Del. Email tips to lucasp@phillynews.com.
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Morgan Zalot is the newest crime reporter at the Daily News, starting in 2011 after interning at the paper twice as a Temple University journalism student. In her past stints at the DN, she covered just about everything, from drunken Phillies fans to a barber shop in a high school to a grisly murder-suicide. She’s a born-and-raised Philly girl who grew up in the Northeast. E-mail tips to zalotm@philly.com.
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