Philadelphia corruption probe widens

Sweeping Corruption Probe Hits Philly
PHILADELPHIA - Fox 29 has confirmed that the existence of a sweeping grand jury investigation into allegations of corruption in the Philadelphia police department and city government.

Sources confirm that FBI agents spread out across Philadelphia and southern New Jersey earlier this week executing search warrants and serving subpoenas.

Fox 29's Dave Schratwieser says sources say at least two ranking members of the Philadelphia police department and two city officials may be caught up in the investigation at this point, but the FBI has cast a wide net that could bring down others tied to these allegations of corruption.

The FBI agents fanned out Tuesday delivering subpoenas and executing search warrants at local gentleman's clubs and towing companies.

They visited two strip clubs in Southwest Philadelphia looking for information on whether they did business with a South Philadelphia beer distributorship, Chappy's Beer.

The beer distributorship is owned in part by a high-ranking Philadelphia Licenses and Inspection department official and a disbarred attorney, Gregory Quigley.

Quigley was convicted in the recent Delaware County nostra organized crime gambling investigation.

Quigley also has ties to mob associate "Bent Finger" Lou Monticello.

Monticello plead guilty to conspiracy charges in the state organized crime case with Quigley.

FBI agents also seized records on inspections at the strip clubs by Licenses and Inspection, as well as parking violations and traffic citations.

FBI agents also visited the police department on Tuesday seizing the laptop computers belonging to a sergeant assigned to the neighborhood services unit, who also handles towing and parking issues at the airport and the sports complex.

That sergeant has been transferred by Commissioner Charles Ramsey who told Schratwieser recently he was concerned about corruption.

Sources tell Fox 29 at least half a dozen people were given subpoenas to appear before a grand jury meeting on Market Street in the coming weeks, and several were also notified their voices were picked up on secret FBI listening devices.

The investigation also reaches into the towing industry and the salvage business with the FBI looking for evidence linked to police officers, the Licenses and Inspection department official, and others.

On Thursday, the FBI, the police department and the U.S. Attorney's office all refused comment.

It is clear that FBI agents have used electronic surveillance during this investigation and much of this may have been caught on tape. An attorney for the owner of the strip clubs refused comment to Fox 29

Commissioner Ramsey is monitoring the situation closely and working closely with the FBI to root out corruption in the department.

Nearly 20 officers have been arrested and fired in the past two years, but this could get much bigger before it is over.