Fattah convicted of federal corruption charges

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.) was convicted Tuesday on federal racketeering and bribery charges, putting an ignominious stamp on the career of one of the region's longest-serving members of Congress and all but ensuring that his public life will be capped with a prison sentence.

Yet Fattah, 59, offered no indication of whether he intended to resign.

"This is an extraordinarily difficult day for me and my family," he said in a statement. "While today's outcome isn't what we had hoped, I respect our nation's judicial system. I want to thank the people of the Second Congressional District for the honor of serving them."

The verdict came after four weeks of testimony in which prosecutors painted the congressman as an arrogant lawbreaker who repeatedly turned to the money of others - taxpayers, charities, wealthy fund-raisers - to cover his personal and political debts. His lawyers did not say whether they planned to appeal.

While he had breezily dismissed the allegations and smirked through much of his trial, Fattah betrayed little emotion Tuesday as the jury foreman read out guilty verdict after guilty verdict - on all of the 22 counts he faced, including charges of fraud and money laundering.

Four longtime members of his inner circle - including Herbert Vederman, a former Philadelphia deputy mayor under Ed Rendell - were also convicted on multiple counts tied to crimes they committed to advance Fattah's political career. U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III set sentencing dates for early October.

Attorney for accused mom in Bucks case: Hold judgment

"Anybody can be arrested - your friends, your neighbors, your family, or even you - but it doesn't mean you're guilty." So argued attorneys Wednesday for Savilla Stoltzfus, the jailed mother of a teenage girl found living in a Bucks County home with a man accused of raping and fathering children with her.

Those were the first public comments of any kind made on behalf of either parent involved in the unusual and still-unfolding case.

Savilla Stoltzfus, 42, of Quarryville, Lancaster County, was arrested last week along with her husband, Daniel Stoltzfus, on charges of child endangerment.

They told authorities that they "gifted" their then-14-year-old daughter, now 18, to Lee Kaplan in gratitude for his having helped save the couple's Quarryville farm from financial ruin. In addition to that girl's two young children, nine other girls were living in the house, who the Stoltzfuses claim are all their daughters.


"Until all the facts are in, we ask that the court of public opinion hold its judgment of our client as well. Stay tuned," read the statement, issued by attorneys Cary B. Hall and Alexander G. Tuttle.

The allegations against her are "unconfirmed," they said.

Savilla Stoltzfus spent most of her time living in the Feasterville home with Kaplan and the girls.

Kaplan, 51, was arrested on statutory rape and other charges.

No attorneys are listed for Daniel Stoltzfus or Kaplan. Savilla Stoltzfus' attorneys are not representing her husband.

Investigators continue to piece together the relationships among Kaplan, the females, and the Stoltzfuses.

WORKER FALLS DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT AT GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER

HOUSTON  -- Firefighters were called to the George R. Brown Convention Center after reports of a man falling down an elevator shaft.

HFD has confirmed the nature of the call to 911 dispatchers, but have no further details.

The George R. Brown Convention Center says in a statement that the accident involved an employee off TD Industries.

While GRB officials could not give us specifics about what happened, we do know paramedics were called to the scene and the worker was taken to the hospital for their injuries.

UNATTENDED BAG CAUSES SCARE AT DFW AIRPORT

DALLAS, TX Things are back to normal at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport after an unattended bag had parts of it shut down Wednesday.

The bag was discovered in the south ticketing hall of Terminal D, according to airport administrators.

Security personnel locked down and cleared the ticketing hall during the investigation, but by around 12:30pm, determined the bag was of no concern and opened everything back up.

DALLAS POLICE: TROUBLED QB MANZIEL REPORTS HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

Police in Dallas say troubled quarterback Johnny Manziel reported a hit-and-run accident earlier this week. The publicist for the former Texas A&M star says he wasn't seriously injured.

Senior Cpl. DeMarquis Black told The Associated Press the accident happened Monday night, and Manziel had a witness from his vehicle and an impartial witness. Manziel attorney Bob Hinton said police told him the vehicle was damaged on the driver's side.

Manziel's publicist, Denise Michaels, said the former Cleveland player told her he hit his head but didn't have a concussion or other injury.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner is facing a misdemeanor assault charge in a domestic violence case involving former girlfriend Colleen Crowley. A status hearing is scheduled for Friday, but Manziel isn't required to appear.