Former Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. Its the former home of Congressman Chaka Fattah and his wife Renee Chenault-Fattah, a 2.6-acre estate tucked away on a quiet lane in East Falls. A spokeswoman for NBC10, Shawn Feddeman, said the station had no comment. Theyre from the White House. The Congressman has an older son, Chaka Fattah, Jr., also a politician, who was convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in February 2016. The FBI spent years investigating Fattah, and it long looked as if he would escape federal indictment. In 2007 Fattah launched an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of Philadelphia. During his sentencing in 2016, U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle called the Philadelphia-area lawmaker's crimes "astonishing" given that he and his TV anchor wife had a $500,000 annual income that put them at or near the "top 1 percent.". Fattah's third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, is a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster. It is unclear but the Federal Bureau of Prisons database shows he is in a residential reentry center in Philadelphia. Outside of legislative work Fattah has created a few local education initiatives for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania families as a state legislator and in cooperation with state and municipal governments, including the CORE scholars program and the annual Grad Conference. His candidacy announcement took place next to the recently completed Microsoft School of the Future in the city's Parkside neighborhood to emphasize his campaign platform of better educational opportunities for city youth. Fattah says he can get by largely on the fact that his name has been on the ballot for two decades. In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators, noting his "excellence in haberdashery.". Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. But Fattah says hes also more committed now than he ever has been. That is not going to be the big deal of whatever is said about me, he says, pausing to point at the 22 articles that lay out his political accomplishments. Strategistswidely believe he has the most name recognitionin the field (absent the incumbent), as well as the most cashand a handful of top Philadelphia and state politicians standing behind him who are willing to throw in public support and money for ads. Dianna Marder, Party Politics: Fattah, Chenault exchange vows with help from their children, the congressman and news anchor held a big church wedding,The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 2001, Congressman Chaka Fattahs son taken off to serve years in prison for fraud,NBCPhiladelphia.com, February 2, 2016,https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Chaka-Fattah-Jr-Fraud-Sentencing-Federal-Court-367332741.html; Bill Clark, Chaka Fattah former Pennsylvania congressman gets 10 years in federal prison for corruption, CBSNews.com, December 12, 2016,https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chaka-fattah-former-pennsylvania-congressman-10-years-prison-corruption/. The judge said it was equally astonishing that Fattah would steal money to cover his sons debts, to pay taxes and to buy a family vacation home. Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a result of the conviction. the Service Employees International Union, spent about a third of whatbusinessman Tom Knox did, a Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy, Experts seem to agree that prosecutors have their hands full, 5 things to know about Joanna McClinton, Pa.s first Black woman House speaker, How to get on the primary ballot in Philly (and why candidates get kicked off), What should Philly mayoral candidates answer about public safety? 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129 | TREND images via Elfant Wissahickon Realtors. He won landslide after landslide every two years since 1994 without facing a formidable opponent once in the Democratic primary, and certainly not in the general election. Its very hard he said. "If you're black or Hispanic, you're twice as likely to be impacted by this disease," Chenault-Fattah told me. After 30 years of working first as a Wall Street lawyer and later a TV broadcaster, she had to figure out what her third act would be. Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. The conference was designed to encourage minority students interest in STEM graduate and professional schools. Two of Fattahs political consultants pleaded guilty in the case and testified against him. Vederman wrote back to Fattah, "love to purchase" the car, according to the indictment, and later wired $18,000 to Fattah. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. Experts seem to agree that prosecutors have their hands full trying to prove theircharges because of a long paper trail (900,000 pages of government evidence) that will have to be nailed down in court. The nonprofit efforts including a NASA-funded mobile science classroom emblazoned with Fattahs name that roamed Philadelphia during the mayoral campaign helped promote Fattahs political career, prosecutors said in their sentencing memo. Chaka Fattah's net worth The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. He also wrote the legislation for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). Fattah, a Democrat formerly representing Pennsylvanias second congressional district, was found guilty in June 2016. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. He announced his immediate resignation from Congress two days later, on June 23. U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III told Fattah in January:You need to take this matter seriously and think long and hard about your priorities., The charges Fattah denies are what hesomehow calls a clarifying moment., Sometimes when youre flying on Air Force One and some corporate CEO is waiting to greet you and introduce you and this and that, but theyre really not talking to you. Both bills died without any action being taken. When I reached out to her on Tuesday, she was about to take part in a round-table discussion organized by Us Against Alzheimer's. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Phillys mayoral candidates are tiptoeing onto TikTok. She was cited in the case over the sham sale of her Porsche,. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia remanded for new sentencing and Fattah was again sentenced to 10 years on July 12, 2019. Its main floor features a living room and great room on either side of a central fireplace, a modern kitchen, a TV room with powder room and a laundry. The case was then remanded for resentencing. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This legislation will provide means to catalyze cooperative development, provide tools to entrepreneurs to bring cooperative to their communities, partner with financial institutions to provide grants a loans to developing businesses, offer technical training and professional development. Fattah is also the creator of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Fattah was the lead Democrat responsible for the funding of the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney General. He says the work he wants to complete will take him another decade. In the late 1990s she broadcast segments on her own pregnancy, which was achieved through anonymous artificial insemination. The latest bill places more focus on eliminating the federal debt. After Fattah rattles off his accomplishments, he draws comparisons to others he says were unfairly targeted by law enforcement. Suddenly, the popular broadcaster was a stay-at-home mom with a whole lot of time on her hands and a non-compete clause that sidelined her for a least a year. They say Fattah and his allies ran not one, but several schemes, that misappropriated funds and helped him further his own political and financial interests. The only poll conducted so far suggests Evans is in the lead, but theres a caveat: Evans, who didnt respond to a request for comment. The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. He says hes just fine garnering the support. In 1991, State Senator Fattah decided to run for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district in the special election that was held after Democratic U.S. Once he lost that race and faced a large debt, Fattah and his inner circle illegally used federal and charitable funds to help repay the loan. His political life. And then Im going to continue my work in the Congress, he said. With regard to the governments cross-appeal, the Court of Appeals reinstated certain counts that had been dismissed by the District Court post-trial. Former state Rep. Dwight Evans, a fellow Democrat, now holds his seat. The program offers Philadelphians the chance to exchange firearms for vouchers for groceries or other goods. In August 2014, Fattah's longtime aide and close confidant Gregory Naylor pled guilty to federal charges in a complex money laundering scheme used to hide an illegal million-dollar loan that a candidate, unnamed in that indictment, received for his failed mayoral campaign in 2007. Now I know its actually people in the barbershops and the beauty salons. Fattahmakes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. He was convicted on 23 counts of racketeering, fraud, and other corruption charges on June 21, 2016, and resigned two days later. Fattah has also added a 1 percent tax credit designed to eliminate the impact of the measure on couples making less than $250,000 a year. Voting ina new congressman would be, in his words, a Chip Kelly trade something that, roughly speaking, changes the team but for the worse. For context, heres what geographic area the second district covers: [googledocs url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zpCiRP_-CLNE.kuzLxa1XGo9o height=480 width=640]. This was my first big success in Congress.. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. In 1994, Fattah decided to challenge Blackwell in the Democratic primary. Fattah served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 192nd district from 1983 to 1988, and as a State Senator for the 7th district from 1988 to 1994. Hes done lots of favors for lots of people, Dilworth said. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. Former Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. Congressman Chaka Fattah, November 20, 2014. He resigned from Congress two days later. (The government thereafter announced its intention not to retry those counts.) makes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. In 1987, Fattah founded the Graduate Opportunity Initiative Conference, an annual three-day informational and scholarship conference which aims to significantly increase the enrollment of under-represented graduate students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM fields). He says at least 25 million people have been impacted by his programs (there are 715,000 people in hisdistrict, 1.5 million in Philadelphiaand 12.8 million in the state), and that there isnt a single person in the citywho has not been touched in some significant, positive way by something he put in place. Legal Statement. I got to ask former WCAU-TV anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah anything I wanted about Alzheimer's disease. "Almost every chronic illness hits us harder," she said, referring to African Americans. Fattah spent two decades in Congress before losing the primary this year. Fattah, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, began his political career working as the Special Assistant to the Director of Housing and Community Development in Philadelphia from 1980 to 1981. Theres no better time to kick a candidate than when hes down. Phillys hot podcast studio: How two longtime producers are growing the citys audio scene, Meet the 10 entrepreneurs vying set up shop inside Philly rec centers, Tax cuts, a new forensic lab, library service, hotspot help: Takeaways from Mayor Kenneys final city budget proposal, A real art project at Quinta Brunsons former school in West Philly mirrors the Abbott Elementary Mural Arts episode, Former Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for taking bribes, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Advertisement "And that's something that a large segment of the population is not aware of. Fattah insists the Justice Department, though led by fellow Democrats, has been out to get him and his family for years. The kitchen is totally up-to-date with the requisite granite countertops, stainless steel high-end appliances, and island workspace. Ive helped tens of millions of people, Fattah said. On July 29, 2015, Fattah and four of his associates, Bonnie Bowser, Karen Nicholas, Herbert Verderman and Robert Brand were indicted for their alleged roles in a racketeering conspiracy involving several schemes that were intended to further the political and financial interests of the defendants and others by, among other tactics, misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal, charitable and campaign funds. She sat in the courtroom Monday typing on an iPad during the hearing. . Thats at least four more elections to win. first as a Wall Street lawyer and later a TV broadcaster, Indiegogo crowd-funding website for a new documentary, California residents do not sell my data request. 3759) which proposed to have the U.S. Treasury conduct a one-year feasibility study of a 1 percent transaction fee imposed on transactions made at any financial institution. In the 2016 election, Fattah was ousted in the Democratic primarythe real contest in his heavily Democratic, black-majority districtto state representative Dwight Evans. A lawyer before she became a journalist, Chenault-Fattah is said to earn a substantial salary from NBC10. Chaka Fattahs income source is mostly from being a successful . But money more oftendoes. He talks about how former Mayor Michael Nutter. Fattah has said he will appeal his conviction and sentence. GEAR UP has become the largest pre-college awareness program in the nations history and has given more than $2 billion toward the educational advancement of low-income students. The congressman has never won less than 85 percent of the vote in the general, and in 2000 he defeateda Libertarian by garnering an unheard-of 98 percent of the vote. But the icing on this crooked cake is that Fattah is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison and began serving his term at the Federal Correctional Institution, McKean, Pennsylvania on January 25, 2017. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., walks after leaving the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, Tuesday, June 21. Fattah has introduced a few bills targeting the equity of resource allocation within and between school districts. Who Is Chaka Fattah's Wife? The congressman's wife, NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, was not in the courtroom. On August 9, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia overturned Fattah's bribery convictions. A subsequent Philadelphia Daily News investigation revealed that nonprofits receiving federal funding and connected to Fattah paid out over $5.8 million to Fattah allies and alleged that many of these payments were ethically dubious. Chenault-Fattah has sold the 2.6-acre estate in East Falls that had been their marital home and downsized into something smaller near Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, where their daughter, Chandler, is an eighth grader. First published on December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM. The Congressman has an older son, Chaka Fattah, Jr., also a politician, who was convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in February 2016. Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, speaks to the center for American Progress in 2010. But this is only part of the story. He's currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. Fattahs wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, was implicated in the indictment against the congressman and nolonger sits at the anchor deskat NBC 10 where she worked for nearly 25years. On the basis of this ruling, Fattah appealed his conviction in October 2016, placing his sentencing on hold. On November 5, 1991, City Councilman Lucien Edward Blackwell won the election with a plurality of 39% of the vote defeating Fattah (28%), John F. White (28%), and Nadine Smith-Bulford (5%).