John H. Estey was hired to work for a fictional corporation created by the FBI.
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- John H. Estey, who previously chaired the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), was charged last week with wire fraud following an FBI investigation into lobbying in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Gov. Ed Rendell's chief of staff, John Estey, applauds as Rendell enters to deliver his yearly state budget address to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Estey, 53, of Ardmore, was hired as a lobbyist to work for an undercover business created by the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Harrisburg.
Authorities say Estey in 2011 secretly agreed to pay $20,000 in campaign contributions to state assembly members to influence passing of legislation.
"When he was paid funds, Estey only passed through $7,000 in campaign contributions while secretly keeping $13,000," the attorney's office said in a news release.
Estey served as DRPA chair designee from 2004 to 2009 and chair from 2009 to 2011. He was also former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's chief of staff.
As governor, Rendell chaired a handful of DRPA meetings before turning the task over to Estey. Traditionally, New Jersey names the bi-state agency's chief executive officer; Pennsylvania picks the chairman.
According to pennlive.com, Estey is presently an executive from the Hersey Trust Company is expected to plead guilty to wire fraud. The report also cites court documents as saying Estey spoke with undercover agents about general assembly members who could control legislation that would be "beneficial to the business interests of the undercover corporation."
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Estey's initial court appearance has yet to be set. Under federal statute, the maximum penalty he could face is 20 years behind bars, a term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Ronald Levine, Estey's attorney, told the Associated Press, "My only comment is that Mr. Estey is sorry for the mistakes he's made ... He has resolved the matter with the government, and he looks forward to moving on with his life."
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.