D.A. to Charge Two More in Abandoned Sting

State reps Vanessa Lowery Brown and Ronald Waters are expected to face charges.

Seth Williams

District Attorney Seth Williams

The Inquirer reports that D.A. Seth Williams is expected to bring charges against two more figures from the so-called “abandoned sting” case that Attorney General Kathleen Kane earlier decided not to prosecute.

District Attorney Seth Williams is expected to announce charges against State Reps. Vanessa Lowery Brown and Ronald G. Waters, both Philadelphia Democrats, for allegedly accepting cash from an undercover operative, according to people familiar with the matter.

According to investigative documents reviewed by The Inquirer, Waters pocketed the most money from the undercover operative of any of the five politicians caught up in the sting – $8,250 in eight payments.

In the documents, Brown is described as having received the second most – $5,000, in six payments.

The Inky first reported on the sting case in March, including this description of Waters taking money from an undercover informant, Tyron Ali:

In April 2011, to mark Waters’ 61st birthday, Ali gave him $1,000, and the transaction was recorded on tape, according to people who read a transcript of the conversation.

As Ali handed Waters an envelope, the sources said, Ali told him: “Hey, there’s $1,000 in there, bro.”

According to the sources, Waters replied: “My man, happy birthday to Ron Waters.”

Similarly, when Ali went to Brown:

In May 2011, Ali went to Brown’s office and handed her an envelope with $2,000, according to people who have reviewed a transcript of a tape Ali made on that day.

As Brown accepted the money, they said, she put it in her purse and said: “Yo, good looking and Ooowee. . . . Thank you twice.”

Kane said the sting, started under her predecessor, was “poorly conceived, badly managed, and tainted by racism.” Williams, however, has already filed charges against former Traffic Judge Thomasine Tynes in the case; the latest charges will be the second and third criminal cases to emerge from the sting.