Ex Philly Councilman Bobby Henon Gets Prison In Corruption Case

PHILADELPHIA — The federal corruption case against former Philadelphia Councilman Bobby Henon ended with him being sentenced to prison Wednesday.

Henon, 54, was hit with a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine in federal court Wednesday, Action News reports.

He is scheduled to report for his sentence on April 17.

In addition to his time behind bars, Henon will serve 3 years of supervised release, serve 100 hours of community service, and forfeit $207,000, according to NBC10.

Henon was convicted in November 2021 of one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, eight counts of honest services wire fraud, and one count of bribery.

He resigned from his position as a Philadelphia City Councilman in January 2020.

Also convicted as a part of this case was John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, former Business Manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and seven counts of honest services wire fraud.

Dougherty resigned from his role with the union the day of his conviction.

He is awaiting sentencing for the 2021 conviction, but still is scheduled for two federal trials on embezzlement and extortion.

The honest services wire fraud convictions against Henon and Dougherty were based on these schemes: L&I/CHOP; Plumbing Code/Building Trades; Towing; Comcast; and Soda Tax #2. The additional honest services wire fraud count against Henon was predicated on a $5,000 campaign contribution from CWA to Henon’s campaign bank account. The bribery conviction against Henon was based on the same $5,000 check, written on the account of the CWA.

Dougherty, Henon, and others affiliated with Local 98 were charged by indictment in January 2019.

The trials were then separated, leaving Dougherty and the other defendants to stand trial on the embezzlement and tax fraud charges at a later date.

The indictment alleged Dougherty and Henon defrauded the City of Philadelphia and its citizens of the right to Henon’s honest services as a member of City Council.

Evidence presented during the trial showed Henon got a salary and other things of value from Dougherty and, in exchange, Henon used his position as a member of City Council to serve Dougherty’s interests.