Sentencing date set for Fleck
Pawlowski’s former campaign manager pleaded guilty in 2016.
Mike Fleck, the former campaign manager who secretly recorded ex-Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and others orchestrating pay-to-play deals, is set to be sentenced in federal court on corruption-related charges early next year.
Chief U.S. District Judge Juan R. Sanchez on Thursday ordered Fleck to appear for sentencing Feb. 7 in Philadelphia. Fleck pleaded guilty in April 2016 to tax evasion and conspiracy to commit extortion, and bribery offenses.
A former car salesman and Easton city councilman, Fleck operated campaign consulting firm H Street Strategies, which ran Pawlowski’s campaigns for mayor, governor and U.S. Senate, and business consulting firm Hamilton Development.
The companies had a built-in conflict of interest, an employee testified. Fleck’s political clients often sought donations from business clients, whom the politicians were in positions to reward, Fleck employee Sam Ruchlewicz testified during Pawlowski’s trial.
Fleck didn’t testify in the trial, but he played a pivotal role, helping the FBI build its case against Pawlowski by wearing a recording device.
Fleck agreed to record others after agents confronted him with evidence of his own wrongdoing. Recordings by him and Ruchlewicz captured Pawlowski discussing campaign contributions with people who sought or received work from the city.
Ruchlewicz was not charged with a crime.
Fleck shut down his businesses and moved out of his Allentown home days after the FBI raided Allentown City Hall in July 2015. He is one of eight people who pleaded guilty before Pawlowski was indicted in July 2017.
Pawlowski was sentenced last month to 15 years in prison for conspiracy, bribery, attempted extortion, fraud and making false statements to the FBI.
He is appealing his convictions.
In court, Pawlowski’s attorney, Jack MaMahon, branded Fleck the real culprit, calling him a “narcissistic reprobate” whose thrall Pawlowski was under.
Earlier this week, Sanchez scheduled sentencings on Nov. 27 for former Allentown finance Director Garret Strathearn, Nov. 28 for former assistant solicitor Dale Wiles, and Feb. 8 for former Allentown managing Director Francis Dougherty.
peter.hall@mcall.com Twitter @phall215 610-820-6581