Ex-Fattah strategist Lindenfeld, who testified against him, gets probation and a fine
Thomas Lindenfeld, the once-loyal political consultant to former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who testified for the government in the trial that ended with the lawmaker's conviction on racketeering and bribery charges, was sentenced Friday to four years' probation and a $5,000 fine.
Thomas Lindenfeld, the once-loyal political consultant to former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who testified for the government in the trial that ended with the lawmaker's conviction on racketeering and bribery charges, was sentenced Friday to four years' probation and a $5,000 fine.
Lindenfeld, 61, of Washington, the chief strategist behind Fattah's failed 2007 mayoral bid, pleaded guilty in 2014 to wire fraud for his role in securing an illegal $1 million loan to save that faltering campaign.
After U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III handed down the sentence in a packed courtroom, Lindenfeld's supporters broke into applause, and the moist-eyed defendant was whisked away, declining to speak to reporters.
He testified against Fattah during the corruption trial, which ended in June, as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, who in turn did not seek the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors had asked only that Lindenfeld receive "a period of incarceration," according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gibson.
Lindenfeld's attorney, Robert M. Weinberg, in arguing that his client had suffered enough and should be spared prison, told the judge: "Once you're a felon, candidates will not likely be hiring you as a political consultant." Weinberg said that Lindenfeld was renting out two rooms in his home to make ends meet.
Bartle said his sentence was based upon Lindenfeld's cooperation and the good works he has done in his life, as reflected in testimonial letters.
Bartle noted that Fattah's trial included no audio or video evidence, making Lindenfeld's testimony "critical and valuable."
Fattah's lawyers had sought to portray Lindenfeld as an equivocal operative willing to say and do anything to win in court and in the political world.
Lindenfeld, dressed in a dark blue business suit, his voice at times wavering, said, "I stand here shaken to the core, humbled."
Lindenfeld told the judge Friday at the federal courthouse on Market Street that he was ashamed that his son did not attend the sentencing, fearing his father would be sent to prison.
"I have made a grave error in judgment," he said.
During the Fattah trial at the same courthouse, Lindenfeld testified in detail about his role in securing the illegal $1 million campaign loan for Fattah.
Prosecutors had argued that after securing the loan from former Sallie Mae CEO Albert L. Lord, Fattah later paid off the debt using stolen charitable donations and federal grant funds.
In a separate scheme, the prosecutors argued, Fattah sought to pay Lindenfeld for work on the mayoral campaign by steering congressional earmarks to a sham nonprofit he encouraged the consultant to create.
Lindenfeld, a Princeton University graduate with a past list of clients that includes former Gov. Ed Rendell, former Mayors John F. Street and Michael A. Nutter, and former President Bill Clinton and President Obama, testified that he staked his consulting firm, LSG Strategies, as collateral for the loan Lord made to Fattah in 2007.
The check was issued to Lindenfeld's company instead of the campaign because it violated the city's limits on political contributions. Lindenfeld told jurors the understanding from the start was that Fattah would be responsible for paying the debt.
Fattah, 59, who was found guilty of 22 crimes including racketeering, bribery, wire fraud, and bank fraud, resigned from Congress on June 23, just days after the jury convicted him.
The Democrat, who served 21 years on Capitol Hill, will be sentenced Oct. 4.
Bartle last month sentenced codefendant Gregory Naylor to four years on probation and fined him $10,000. The political consultant was accused of concealing the misuse of $622,000 in Fattah campaign contributions and federal grant funds and lying to the FBI. He testified that he had done what Fattah asked him to do.
Four other codefendants were tried with Fattah and convicted of various crimes related to the congressman's financial schemes.
Sentencing for Herbert Vederman and Robert Brand, both 70; Bonnie Bowser, 60, and Karen Nicholas, 58, has been postponed indefinitely.
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