PHILADELPHIA - A politically connected Muslim cleric pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of tax evasion, and his trial on other corruption charges was abruptly delayed until Thursday.
Shamsud-din Ali, the leader of an influential Philadelphia mosque, was indicted as part of a sweeping corruption investigation that involved surveillance of several city officials, including the mayor.
Prosecutors said Ali, who has close ties to city Democrats, siphoned tens of thousands of dollars from a school associated with his mosque and accepted contributions to the school from drug dealers.
At his plea hearing Ali said he had not reported or paid taxes on all of his income from the school but denied benefiting from drug money.
Prosecutors also allege Ali used his political friendships to extort money from city vendors and paid a $2,000 kickback to a city councilwoman's aide to obtain a city contract for which he did no work.
Opening statements for Ali's trial on the other charges were delayed until Thursday. He has maintained his innocence.
:MAD |oo
Shamsud-din Ali, the leader of an influential Philadelphia mosque, was indicted as part of a sweeping corruption investigation that involved surveillance of several city officials, including the mayor.
Prosecutors said Ali, who has close ties to city Democrats, siphoned tens of thousands of dollars from a school associated with his mosque and accepted contributions to the school from drug dealers.
At his plea hearing Ali said he had not reported or paid taxes on all of his income from the school but denied benefiting from drug money.
Prosecutors also allege Ali used his political friendships to extort money from city vendors and paid a $2,000 kickback to a city councilwoman's aide to obtain a city contract for which he did no work.
Opening statements for Ali's trial on the other charges were delayed until Thursday. He has maintained his innocence.
:MAD |oo
