Police Sergeant Took Bribes From Tow Truck Drivers For Crash Info: Feds​

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia Police Sergeant allegedly accepted regular bribes from certain tow truck drivers in exchange for confidential police information for nearly a year, according to federal officials. The sergeant was hit with a federal indictment on bribery and false statement charges, according to Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

Brian Smith was charged by indictment with two counts of bribery and two counts of making material false statements to the FBI, Lappen's office said.

The indictment alleges that Smith accepted regular bribe payments of $200 to $1,000 over the course of about 11 months. Smith allegedly was giving certain tow truck drivers confidential accident locations, which is in violation of the Police Department’s rotational towing policy, Lappen's office said.

Smith allegedly did this between December 2015 and November 2015, according to the indictment.

That policy was instituted in 2008 as a public safety and consumer protection measure following a series of highly-publicized violent encounters between tow truck operators competing for highly lucrative towing work, Lappen's office said.

In addition, Smith allegedly lied to FBI investigators about the bribes on two occasions, the indictment alleges.

The charges of bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds carry a maximum sentence of 10
years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the charges of making false statements carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Lappen's office.

The indictment did not name the tow truck drivers or their employers.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan of the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department Internal Affairs Division.

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