Ex-mayoral consultant sentenced to 18 months on fraud counts

ALLENTOWN (AP) — A former consultant to a Pennsylvania mayor convicted of trading city contracts for campaign cash has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Fifty-five-year-old James Hickey was sentenced Wednesday in federal court after pleading guilty in December to honest services wire fraud and mail fraud.

Prosecutors said he helped steer a $3 million Allentown street light contract to a client after campaign contributions and conspired to rig bids for a Reading contract.

The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that Hickey told the judge that he regretted his actions and had “taken ownership and responsibility” for them.

Former Allentown mayor Ed Pawlowski awaits sentencing on convictions including bribery, attempted extortion and lying to the FBI. He stepped down after a dozen years, and a former council president now serves as acting mayor.