Corruption

City Councilman James J. Tayoun, one of the most resilient forces in South Philadelphia politics, was indicted yesterday on federal corruption charges amid clear indications that he is likely to plead guilty. In a 27-page indictment that painted another seedy picture of corruption in Philadelphia, the well-known restaurateur and ward leader was accused of paying bribes as a consultant, accepting money for introducing legislation when he got on Council and then trying to obstruct the investigation.

A former police officer who was corrupt from his early days in the Philadelphia Police Department yesterday described a pattern of corruption in which he and his Five Squad colleagues stole money, drugs, diamonds and even casino chips. On the stand as a witness against six former squad members, Charles A. Hund 3d gave a history of his wrongdoing and suggested that he and other cops lived by an informal policy during his career: Take anything that isn't nailed down. He said that he encountered small-time corruption when he first joined the department, and that the corruption got worse and worse as time went on: Police officers took payoffs; they committed burglaries; they stole money; they used drugs; they stole drugs, and they sold drugs.

THE CENTER FOR Public Integrity is starting an ambitious national project - believed to be the first of its kind - to identify risks of public corruption in each state based on laws on the books and how they're enforced. Pennsylvania will show itself to be at very high risk indeed. Right now we've got two former legislative leaders (Democrats Mike Veon and Vince Fumo) in prison; one former legislative leader (Republican Jane Orie) on trial; and two former legislative leaders (Republican John Perzel and Democrat Bill DeWeese)

Hudson County has a booming waterfront, a vibrant immigrant community, and a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline from the palisade overlooking the Hudson River. Hudson County also has a problem with misbehaving public servants. Of 55 significant corruption cases pursued by federal prosecutors in New Jersey during the last three years, 17 - nearly one-third - originated in Hudson County, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark. Now being deliberated by a federal jury is the fraud and extortion case of Rene Abreu, a former fund-raiser for West New York Mayor Albio Sires, who is also speaker of the state Assembly.

Former Roofers Union leader Stephen J. Traitz Jr., who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for racketeering, testified on Tuesday before a federal grand jury that was seeking information about city corruption, his attorney said yesterday. Defense attorney Robert F. Simone confirmed that Traitz had appeared before the panel for about 45 minutes, but he declined to disclose specific questions that had been asked of his client. "I don't want to comment on what he said," Simone said.

Cardinal John Krol was honored as Man of the Year by the Fraternal Order of Police last night, one month before he is to retire as spiritual leader of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Krol, 77, who will step down Feb. 11 after 27 years at the helm of the Roman Catholic archdiocese, took the occasion to urge government leaders to fight corruption. "The mayor, the Council and other elected and appointed officials should set an example of high ethical standards to help curb corruption," Krol said.

HARRISBURG — Former longtime House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese on Monday began serving a 2½- to five-year prison term for corruption. DeWeese, 62, reported to Dauphin County Prison about 1 p.m., a half-hour ahead of the court-ordered deadline, officials said. "I just want to say three things. One, I'm going to behave myself and obviously conform to the protocols of the institution; two, I'm going to stay in tip-top physical condition; and third and finally, I'm going to make some new friends," DeWeese told WHTM-TV.

A plumbing contractor who's been doing business in Philadelphia for 15 years was just a little chagrined in January when FBI agents paid him a visit and revealed a surveillance tape that showed him giving a city inspector cash at a job site. He decided to tell them how it worked - how he tipped inspectors $5 or $10 every they came out to review a job. The contractor also decided to talk with the Daily News, but asked to remain anonymous. "It's been going on forever," he said.

Former New Jersey Sen. Wayne Bryant, who is serving a four-year prison term for political corruption, was indicted Monday on multiple counts of fraud and bribery. An indictment filed in federal court in Newark by the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York charged Bryant and attorney Eric D. Wisler. The indictment alleges that in 2004, Wisler arranged for his Teaneck law firm to enter into a retainer agreement with Bryant's law firm, through which Bryant's firm was paid a fee of $8,000 per month.

I KEPT LOOKING to see the Jolly Roger flying over the defense table when a federal prosecutor finished her opening statement in the municipal corruption trial yesterday. Former City Treasurer Corey Kemp and his alleged co-conspirators sounded as brazen as a band of pirates in Assistant U.S. Attorney Joan Markman's detailed, 90-minute summary of this latest municipal corruption case. They sat impassively as Markman described a veritable feeding frenzy at the public trough that, to hear her tell it, cost city taxpayers "millions and millions of dollars" for bribes, kickbacks and overcharges for services, some never rendered.