Former Philadelphia Councilman Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for corruption case
Henon was found guilty of conspiracy and fraud charges in November 2021.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Former Philadelphia Councilman Bobby Henon has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison following his conviction in November 2021 on conspiracy, bribery and fraud charges.
Henon has until April 17 to report to prison. Following his prison sentence, he will have 3 years of supervised release. He must also pay a $50,000 fine immediately.
"I will honor that sentence. And then I am going to come back and be right back in community service," Henon said after learning his fate.
Federal prosecutors were pushing for up to 10 years in prison, but Henon's lawyers were hoping to avoid prison time.
The lenient sentence was due, in part, to the approximately 180 letters the judge received from Henon's constituents, friends and colleagues vouching for his character.
"There are inherently a lot of good people in the city of Philadelphia doing a lot of good things, and I just happen to work for them for most of my adult life in my professional career," Henon said.
Before the sentence was handed down Henon addressed dozens of his supporters there in the courtroom saying, "I pray that God can forgive me."
The Northeast Philadelphia Democrat and union boss John Dougherty, the longtime business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, were convicted of conspiracy and honest services wire fraud. Henon was also convicted of bribery. Both were acquitted of some charges.
Prosecutors said Dougherty gave Henon, a union electrician-turned-Philadelphia City Council member, a union-paid no-show job to ensure Henon did the union's bidding. Dougherty's lawyers contended that he exerted no undue influence and that the city allows council members to hold outside jobs.
Henon's defense said the case amounted to criminalizing the legislative process and treating the union differently than other groups that lobby lawmakers. Henon was elected in 2011 and has represented his district for three terms.
