saint_monkey

in part of an ongoing saga here in philly, an ex city parking appeals official has been indicted in a ticket fixing scam.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8884511.htm

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Hoffman, the indictment alleges, essentially short-circuited the process and made himself hearing examiner to the city's political establishment.

The ticket-fixing began, the indictment alleges, in mid-1999, when Hoffman contacted an unnamed person described as "an employee of an elected official" and told the person to bring Hoffman parking tickets for "ward leaders, committee persons and constituents of that elected political official several times per month."

Hoffman made it appear as though the tickets were being handled routinely, the indictment alleges, by setting hearings and mailing hearing notices to the ticket recipients. If the recipient appeared at the hearing, Hoffman allegedly dismissed the ticket or reduced the fine.

If the recipient did not appear for the hearing, the indictment alleges, Hoffman dismissed the ticket and had his longtime friend Mirarchi enter an appearance for the recipient on the hearing docket to make the dismissal look legitimate.

Mirarchi was also accused in the indictment of accepting cash payoffs under the guise of his legal "retainer" and splitting the money with Hoffman.

The payoff scheme quickly expanded from Hoffman's original arrangement with that first unnamed public employee to include other officials and politicians as well as a restaurant owner and a restaurant employee, who brought tickets to Hoffman in exchange for meals and liquor at their establishments, the indictment alleges.

more stories of parking passes for the priveledged here:

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/6082394.htm