PA State Senator Indicted In Vote Buying Scheme

A Pennsylvania state senator and a Pennsylvania Democratic party official have been charged in a vote buying scheme, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

According to a federal indictment, Lawrence “Larry” Farnese, 47, and Ellen Chapman, 62, both of Philadelphia, have been charged for their involvement in a bribery and fraud scheme during the 2011 election for Democratic Ward Leader for Philadelphia’s Eighth Ward.

Farnese, 47, a Democrat who represents the first senatorial district, and Ellen Chapman, 62, have been charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and violations of the Travel Act, federal prosecutors said.

At the time the duo carried out the alleged scheme, Farnese was a candidate for Democratic Ward Leader of the Eighth Ward and Chapman was a member of the Eighth Ward Democratic Committee.

Farnese allegedly used $6,000 in campaign funds to pay for Chapman's daughter's college study abroad program. The pair agreed that as a result of the payment, Chapman would use her position with the Eighth Ward Democratic Committee to support Farnese in the ward leader election, prosecutors allege.

Chapman had originally intended to support a different candidate in the ward leader election, the indictment says.

Farnese listed the $6,000 payment as a “donation” on his campaign finance report.

This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Jonathan Kravis and Peter Halpern of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

The First Senatorial District includes the following Philadelphia neighborhoods: Bella Vista, Brewery Town, Chinatown, Eastwick, Fairmount, Fishtown, Girard Estate, Graduate Hospital, Grays Ferry, Hawthorne, Jefferson Square, Logan Circle, Lower Kensington, Northern Liberties, Old City, Packer Park, Pennsport, Point Breeze, Port Richmond, Queen Village, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Washington West, and Whitman.

Farnese's lawyer Mark Sheppard told NBC10 news his client is innocent.