Pa. has a history of lawmakers who are also lawbreakers – PennLive

Pennsylvania is 21 years into the 21st Century and it already has collected 21 lawmakers who found themselves charged or convicted of being on the wrong side of the law. Here is a lookback at who made this list.

Margo Davidson

State Rep. Margo Davidson, a Philadelphia area Democrat, heads into the courtroom of District Judge David O'Leary, in Harrisburg when she was charged with theft by deception, obstruction and two election law offenses.Jul. 22, 2021.Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Rep. Margo Davidson, D-Delaware County, was charged on Thursday with theft by deception, obstruction and two campaign finance-related offenses related, in part, to filing fraudulent overnight per diem reimbursement requests for expenses already paid for by her campaign. The six-term incumbent also is accused of not disclosing expenses charged to her campaign account on campaign finance reports. And, according to court documents, she also requested a witness to lie to Office of Attorney General investigators when they called about Davidsons campaign finances and legislative expenses.

Mike Folmer

Former state Sen. Mike Folmer leaves the Lebanon County courthouse, February 27, 2020. Folmer pleaded guilty in Lebanon County court Thursday to three counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of criminal use of a communications facility.Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Former Sen. Mike Folmer on July 20, 2020, was sentenced to 1 to 2 years in prison and 8 years probation Tuesday morning, after pleading guilty in Lebanon County Court to charge that he possessed child pornography on his personal cell phone. He resigned from office on Sept. 18, 2019. He was released from prison this week but still must serve 8 years on probation and he remains a registered sex offender who must report his whereabouts to the state police for the next 15 years.

Movita Harrell-Johnson

Former State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell exits the Stout Center for Criminal Justice on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Johnson-Harrell pleaded guilty after being charged with stealing more than $500,000 from her nonprofit, Motivations Education & Consultation Associates (MECA).HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photogra

Former Rep. Movita Harrell-Johnson on Jan. 23, 2020, pleaded guilty to theft and other charges for stealing more than $500,000 from her charity for personal use. She resigned her House seat and served three months in Philadelphia County Prison, followed by eight-and-a-half months of house arrest and nearly a year on parole and two years on probation.

Vanessa Lowery Brown

Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, was convicted on a bribery and other charges for accepting $4,000 in cash payments from an undercover agent posing as a lobbyist as part of a sting operation.

Former Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown was sentenced in Dauphin County Court on Nov. 30, 2018, to 23 months of probation and ordered her to pay $4,000 in restitution following her conviction on conflict-of-interest, bribery and other charges for accepting $4,000 in cash payments from an undercover agent posing as a lobbyist as part of a sting operation.

Leslie Acosta

State Rep. Leslie Acosta, D-Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in March 2016 to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with an offense that occurred before her election.The Associated Press/file

Former state Rep. Leslie Acosta, D-Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in March 2016 to conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with an offense that occurred before her election. She made the secret plea to the federal felony charges without informing party leaders that she had been charged. The charges came to light in September and were immediately followed by calls from the party and Gov. Wolf for her to resign, even as she vowed to hold onto her office until the legal process had run its course, according to her attorney.

Michelle Brownlee

State Rep. Michelle Brownlee arrives at Magisterial District Court for arraignment on corruption charges. File/The Patriot-News/2015The Patriot News

Former Rep. Michelle Brownlee pleaded guilty on June 8, 2015 o one count of violating the states conflict-of-interest law and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Brownlee was in her third term representing the 195th House District, and resigned immediately upon being convicted.

She was charged with accepting $2,000 in cash from a lobbyist working as an undercover operative.

This photo shows her leaving court with her attorney after entering her guilty plea.

Ron Waters

State Rep. Ron Waters, D-Philadelphia, in June 2015 pleaded guilty in Dauphin County Court to accepting $8,750 in unreported, cash payments from a under covering informant who was posing as a lobbyist seeking to buy his services as an elected official.Pa. House of Representatives

Former state Rep. Ron Waters, D-Philadelphia, in June 2015 pleaded guilty in Dauphin County Court to accepting $8,750 in unreported, cash payments from a under covering informant who was posing as a lobbyist seeking to buy his services as an elected official.

Waters was sentenced to 23 months probation and immediately resigned his House seat.

Louise Bishop

State Rep. Louise Bishop, D-Philadelphia, entering the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg with her counsel, pleaded no contest to a charge that she failed to report money received from an undercover informant, December 16, 2015. File/Dan Gleiter, PennLive.com PENNLIVE.COMPENNLIVE.COM

Former state Rep. Louise Bishop, D-Philadelphia, on Dec. 16, 2015 pleaded no contest in Dauphin County Court to a charge that she failed to report money received from an undercover informant posing as a lobbyist. Bishop also agreed to resign her seat and was sentenced to six months probation.

Harold James

Former State Rep. Harold James arrives at Magisterial District Court for arraignment on corruption charges.2015File/PennLive.com

Former State Rep. Harold James, another Philadelphia Democrat, pleaded guilty in June 2015 to taking $750 in cash payments from a confidential informant-posing-as lobbyist during a special election campaign in 2012.

James, who lost a full-term election later that year, was sentenced to a years probation.

LeAnna Washington

Sen. LeAnna Washington, D-Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in 2014 to conflict of interest for using her legislative staff to raise campaign funds.File/Matt Rourke/ AP Photo

Former Sen. LeAnna Washington, D-Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in 2014 to conflict of interest for using her legislative staff to raise campaign funds. Prosecutors said she used Senate staff to plan her annual birthday party campaign fundraisers from 2005 to 2013, using up to $100,000 in taxpayer funds for political gain.

She was sentenced to three months on home confinement, an additional 57 months on probation and ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution.

Robert Mellow

Robert Mellow, a longtime Democratic leader, was once one of the state's most powerful politicians, representing Lackawanna County for 39 years. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to having his staffers fundraise for him and the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee while on the clock.FileExpress-Times

Former state Sen. Robert Mellow, a longtime Senate Democratic leader, was once one of the states most powerful politicians, representing Lackawanna County for 39 years. He pleaded guilty in 2012 to having his staffers fundraise for him and the Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee while on the clock.

At his sentencing, Mellow, said, Im embarrassed, and Im ashamed, Mellow said when he was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison. Im very, very sorry.

He also was ordered to pay nearly $80,000 in restitution to the state Senate, $31,000 in restitution for filing a bogus tax return and a $40,000 fine. He served 16 months in federal prison in South Carolina for federal conspiracy charges.

John Perzel

Perzel pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft, served nearly two years in prison.

Prosecutors say former House Speaker John Perzel was the architect of a scheme to illegally pay millions of taxpayer dollars to consultants who helped develop voter databases and special software to help Republican legislative candidates running for election.

Perzel pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiracy, conflict of interest and theft, served nearly two years in prison and was ordered to pay $1 million in restitution, which earlier this year the court ruled he didnt have to pay. He remained on parole through April 2017.

Bill DeWeese

Former Pa. House Speaker Bill DeWeese, a Democrat, was convicted in 2012 by a Dauphin County jury on charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest, for using state-paid staff for campaign work.

Former state House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, a Democrat, was convicted in 2012 by a Dauphin County jury on charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest, for using state-paid staff for campaign work. DeWeese, who has steadfastly insisted he is innocent, served 22 1/2 months in prison before being paroled.

The Superior Court ruled last year that he must repay more than $100,000 in taxpayer funds that prosecutors say he stole. In addition, he was required to forfeit his pension.

Stephen Stetler

Ex-state Rep. Stephen Stetler, a former state revenue secretary and one-time chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison after being convicted in 2012 of using state resources and employees to conduct political campaigns.Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

Former state Rep. Stephen Stetler, a former state revenue secretary and one-time chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison after being convicted in 2012 of using state resources and employees to conduct political campaigns.

Jane Orie

Sen. Jane Orie, a Pittsburgh-area Republican, was convicted in 2012 and served 22 1/2 months in prison for using her state-paid Senate staff to run her re-election campaigns.Gene J. Puskar/ AP Photo/file

Former Sen. Jane Orie, a Pittsburgh-area Republican, was convicted in 2012 and served 22 1/2 months in prison for using her state-paid Senate staff to run her re-election campaigns. She was also convicted of introducing forged defense documents during her first trial in 2011, resulting in a mistrial.

Her two sisters, one of whom was state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, were convicted a short time later of similar offenses.

Brett Feese

Former state Rep. Brett Feese was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in state prison by a Dauphin County judge Friday, February 10, 2012 for his role as a principal in the Computergate scandal involving House Republicans.File/The Patriot-News

Former state Rep. Brett O. Feese was convicted 2011 in the Computergate scandal of using state resources for political purposes. A jury, after a 23-day trial in October 2011, convicted him of 40 charges, including theft, obstruction of the administration of law and conspiracy.

Feese, who once chaired the House Republican Campaign Committee, was released from the state prison at Waymart on June 28, 2015.

Mike Veon

Former state Rep. Mike Veon, a Democrat from Beaver County, convicted in 2010 of converting a portion of the House Democrat legislative staff into a taxpayer-funded campaign team. He was sentenced to six to 14 years in state prison and was granted parole in June 2015. JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-NewsTHE PATRIOT-NEWS

Former Rep. Michael Veon, a one-time House Minority Whip, convicted in 2010 of converting a portion of the House Democrat legislative staff into a taxpayer-funded campaign team. He was sentenced to six to 14 years in state prison and was granted parole in June 2015.

In November 2016, the state Supreme Court granted him a new trial, saying the trial judge erred when he told jurors hearing the case against Veon that the former lawmaker did not have to gain financially to be convicted of violating the conflict-of-interest law. The Supreme Courts main opinion said the crime must involve a financial benefit, and that intangible political benefits are not sufficient.

Last year, the court ruled he must pay $19,000 in restitution he was ordered to pay in 2018.

Vincent Fumo

Former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, once one of the state's most powerful lawmakers, was found guilty on July 14, 2009 of 137 counts of conspiracy, fraud and related charges stemming from allegations that he used public and nonprofit resources for personal and political gain. File photo

Former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, once one of the states most powerful lawmakers, was found guilty on July 14, 2009 of 137 counts of conspiracy, fraud and related charges stemming from allegations that he used public and nonprofit resources for personal and political gain. Fumo was sentenced to a 55-month prison term.

Frank LaGrotta

Former Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Lawrence County pleaded guilty Feb. 5, 2008 in Dauphin County Court to conflict of interest for creating no-work jobs for two relatives in his Ellwood City district office.File/The Patriot-News

Former Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Lawrence County pleaded guilty Feb. 5, 2008 in Dauphin County Court to conflict of interest for creating no-work jobs for two relatives in his Ellwood City district office.

Jeff Habay

State Rep. Jeff Habay, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, resigned from office in February 2006 on the same day he is sentenced to 6 to 12 months in prison for using his legislative staff to campaign for him on state time.

Former state Rep. Jeff Habay, a six-term Republican from Allegheny County, resigned from office in February 2006 on the same day he is sentenced to 6 to 12 months in prison for using his legislative staff to campaign for him on state time.

Later, when lawmakers and legislative staffers were charged for misuse of public resources for political purposes in the Bonusgate scandal, then-Attorney General Tom Corbett said Habays case should have put legislative leaders and their staffs on notice that the attorney generals office and the courts take a stern view of such illegal activity.

Habay later pleaded no contest to charges stemming from false reports he made to police saying he was the target of an anthrax hoax supposedly perpetrated by a political opponent.

William Slocum

State Sen. William Slocum, a Republican from Warren County, resigned his seat June 1, 2000 after being sentenced to a month in jail and 5 months of home detention for dumping raw sewage into a stream. Slocum was a manager of a sewage treatment plant.The Associated Press/file

Former state Sen. William Slocum, a Republican from Warren County, resigned his seat June 1, 2000 after being sentenced to a month in jail and 5 months of home detention for dumping raw sewage into a stream. Slocum was a manager of a sewage treatment plant.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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Pa. has a history of lawmakers who are also lawbreakers - PennLive