T. Milton Street Sr., embattled brother of the former mayor of Philadelphia, John Street, has been sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison for failing to file tax returns. He was immediately taken into custody.
Street’s 2006 trial raised allegations of improprieties stemming from a three-year investigation. The investigation was part of a wider look into Philadelphia politics and what became known as the “pay to play” culture. Philadelphia politics made national news when, during the 2003 mayoral election, a bug was discovered in the mayor’s office. The bug had been planted by the FBI in a sweeping corruption probe that targeted Mayor Street’s treasurer and fundraisers. The Mayor was never officially accused of wrongdoing.
Mayor Street’s brother, however, was accused – not only of tax evasion – but also charges of mail and wire fraud, filing false tax returns and related counts. He was acquitted on those charges.
The 69-year-old Street was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs to begin serving his sentence. He was also ordered to pay $413,000 in back taxes.
