Ex-airport Official Gets 16 Months For Bribery Henry Glucker Took Bribes From Contractors And Got A Harsh Term - More Than Twice As Harsh As The Prosecutor Sought.

In December, seven months after he retired as maintenance manager at Philadelphia International Airport, Henry ``Hank'' Glucker got a bronze plaque in appreciation for his 12 years of service.

The commendation came two months after Glucker was charged with taking $12,500 in bribes from two contractors in exchange for steering airport business to them. He later pleaded guilty.

U.S. District Judge Clarence C. Newcomer said yesterday that he was not surprised by Glucker's plaque - official thanks from an employer he cheated for seven years. Nor was the judge impressed.

Newcomer sentenced Glucker to 16 months in prison - more than twice the term recommended by the prosecutor and a probation officer - and fined him $10,000.

Newcomer called the sentence ``difficult.'' He noted that Glucker, 61, had admitted his guilt and had cooperated in a federal investigation of airport contracting. But that ``can't wipe the slate clean,'' the judge said.

``This man held a responsible position in a city that finds far too many people holding responsible positions and betraying the trust that's placed in them,'' Newcomer said.

Newcomer, who in 1990 imposed long prison terms on several officers convicted in the Five Squad police corruption trial, said: ``We've got to deal harshly with people like [Glucker] because somehow we've got to let the people know that this is not going to be tolerated.''

Glucker, of the city's Holmesburg section, seemed shocked by the sentence. He said little except ``I'm sorry.'' His attorney, Ronald Segal, said he would file a motion asking Newcomer to reduce the sentence.

Airport spokesman Mark Pesce said Glucker was one of 13 retirees who received ``the standard retirement plaque'' last year. Pesce said the charges against Glucker did not warrant rescinding the honor.

Glucker did not attend the ceremony, he said.

Glucker, who supervised 375 people and was responsible for all airport buildings, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery involving accepting $7,500 in cash, plus free re-upholstering services, from Anthony St. Angelo Jr., owner of St. Angelo East Coast Furniture Renewal Inc., of Ijamsville, Md. The firm was paid about $129,000 for airport work.

St. Angelo has not been charged. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph G. Poluka said St. Angelo would have testified against Glucker had the case gone to trial.

Glucker also admitted accepting $5,000 in cash from Donald H. Mohl, superintendent of Chew Fence Inc. of Huntingdon Valley, which had $285,700 worth of airport contracts. Mohl pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bid-rigging involving his city contracts in 1993 and was sentenced to five years' probation, fined $25,000 and ordered to make $59,000 restitution.