PR governor, four Philadelphians charged

PR governor, four Philadelphians charged
By John Shiffman

Inquirer Staff Writer

Puerto Rico's governor and four Philadelphians, including prominent fund-raiser Robert M. Feldman, were charged this morning in San Juan with federal campaign-finance related crimes, according to a Justice Department official in Washignton.

The investigation of Gov. Anibal Acevedo-Vila, a Democrat who faces re-election this year, was triggered by the FBI's Philadelphia City Hall corruption probe in 2003.

Feldman, who raised more than $1 million for Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Gov. Rendell, was a former business partner of Ronald A. White, the late power-broker who was the lead defendant in the Philadelphia corruption case.

Feldman was investigated but not charged in the Philadelphia case.

The case could have political ramifications beyond Philadelphia and San Juan. Acevedo-Vila has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama in the Puerto Rico primary, which holds the nation's last primary on June 6.

In addition, some of the governor's allies in Congress have tried to link it to the national U.S. attorneys scandal, alleging a partisan investigation. The Justice Department has said it prosecutes crime where it finds it.

The federal indictment of Acevedo-Vila, Feldman and others was unsealed in San Juan this morning. A morning press conference is scheduled in San Juan.

Acevedo-Vila, who has called the investigation politically inspired, was expected to surrender to federal authorities and appear before a federal magistrate in San Juan later today.

Among the four Philadelphians charged, in addition to Feldman, is Feldman's fellow-fundraiser, Candido Negron of Glen Mills, Delaware County.

The FBI's investigation of Acevedo-Vila began during its Philadelphia City Hall corruption probe in 2003, which focused on White and then-Mayor John Street and his top aides.

In 2003, FBI wiretaps recorded Feldman and Negron working closely with powerbroker Ronald A. White on deals.

White became the lead defendant in the City Hall case, charged with corrupting former City Treasurer Kemp and conspiring with Commerce Bank executives to win sweetheart deals for his clients. Kemp and the bankers were convicted, and Kemp was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

White died of cancer before trial, but wiretaps and other evidence in the case spawned other investigations, including the one bursting into the limelight today in Puerto Rico.

Feldman, who was not charged in the Philadelphia case, was White's partner and superstar fund-raiser for many Democrats. In addition to Rendell and Casey, Feldman raised nearly $500,000 for Street. He was the second-most proficient fund-raiser for former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey.

Negron considered Feldman a mentor, and together they raised at least $50,000 for Acevedo-Vila at two Philadelphia campaign events. At the time, Acevedo-Vila was seeking re-election as Puerto Rico's non-voting delegate to Congress.

Of the $800,000 Acevedo-Vila raised during that campaign, $180,000 of it came from donors in Philadelphia and South Jersey, a percentage that authorities found suspicious.

In 2006, three contributors to that campaign told The Inquirer that Negron gave them money to make the contributions.

Inquirer special correspondent Susan Anasagasti Akus contributed to this report.


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