News from the world of political corruption

Some old and new faces in the investigation news today:

• Philadelphia City Councilman Rick Mariano, target of much federal sniffing (see previous story here), has received official notice that a federal grand jury will be discussing his business.

  Federal prosecutors have also sent target letters to at least two companies in Mariano's district. One of those letters referenced alleged criminal acts that included money laundering and conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud, according to a criminal justice source who has seen the letter.

• Norristown Mayor Ted LeBlanc is the latest target of anti-payola law enforcement activity in the region, now charged with bank fraud, soliciting a bribe, and various mail frauds.

  Norristown Mayor Ted LeBlanc was accused by the U.S. attorney yesterday of taking a $10,000 bribe from an insurance contractor in exchange for giving him government business. Former municipal administrator Anthony Biondi was accused of concealing his financial interest in two companies and then accepting hidden cash payments from the firms.
  
  Insurance agent Herbert H. Bagley, the insurance broker for the municipality, was accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the borough and bribing LeBlanc. Two paving contractors were accused of hiding Biondi's financial interest in their businesses.

  The charges come after more than two years of investigation into Norristown hijinks.

Classic local seaminess. The LeBlanc story even involves brown paper bags full of thousands in cash...