Delco Councilman Guilty Of Taking Bribes For Bogus Security Work

A longtime Delaware County municipal councilman was convicted of receiving kickbacks on highly inflated costs for security systems installed in various borough buildings and billing for items that were never installed, Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland said.

Edward M. Mitchell, 75, was convicted of six counts each of theft by deception and restricted activities, 12 counts of criminal conspiracy, and 18 counts of bribery, the DA's office said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary Mann and the investigation was led by Detective Timothy Deery of the District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

Mitchell was charged after an investigation that started in March 2016 when CID was told by Upland Borough Mayor Michael Ciach that he found a covert camera system installed in the Upland Borough Municipal Building.

CID Detectives Robert Lythgoe and Edmond Pisani then went to the Upland Borough Municipal Building and found the covert camera system, which was disguised as motion sensors for the building alarm system, as well as hidden microphones.

During the investigation, it was discovered that multiple security systems – including cameras and recording devices – had been installed by Logan Technology in various Upland Borough buildings, including covert recording devices in the Borough Council Chambers and cameras in the secretary’s office.

Further investigation showed that 275 invoices totaling $914,000 were paid by Upland Borough to Thomas Willard of Logan Technology Solutions from October 2009 to December 2015.

Mitchell received kickbacks of between 10 percent to 20 percent of various invoices submitted by Logan Technology.

Mitchell told borough staff to pay the invoices immediately, even though on some occasions the work had not been done, and contrary to borough rules the bills were not submitted for approval by council.

In one case, Mitchell OKed a payment to Willard in the amount of more than $30,000 for cameras that were never ordered, later claiming the equipment had been stolen, and re-billing the borough for more than $15,000.

Through the course of the investigation it was determined that some of the systems included the covert recording devices, installed at Mitchell’s direction for the purpose of intercepting conversations.

After conviction and upon motion of the Commonwealth, Mitchell’s bail was increased by the court to ten percent of $500,000.

Mitchell's sentencing is scheduled for September 14.

"The conviction of Edward Mitchell represents my continuing commitment to investigate and prosecute corruption by public officials who violate public trust for their own selfish and personal gain," Copeland said. "Mr. Mitchell had a sworn duty to serve the residents of Upland Borough, and he egregiously violated this duty, by orchestrating kickbacks for his own personal, selfish gain, lining his pockets with money at taxpayers’ expense."

Image via Delaware County District Attorney's Office