An Upper Darby man has admitted to using his trusted positions in both a religious organization and a political group to fund his personal lifestyle. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, Willie Jordan, 68, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in a scheme that lasted several years and affected a church and a political subdivision in Philadelphia.
Jordan's roles as a deacon and trustee at Religious Organization #1 and as the leader of Political Organization #1 placed him in charge of managing funds, but instead of safeguarding these, he used them for his own gain. Court documents reveal that Jordan issued 82 fraudulent checks to himself from the church's account, totaling around $57,384. This activity was conducted without the knowledge or permission of the organization's trustees or members.
In his political sphere, Jordan had served as the elected leader of a local ward since 1996. He opened two bank accounts in the name of the political organization he led, making himself the sole signatory. Regularly, Jordan would use the accounts' debit cards to pay for his own expenses, ranging from airline tickets to furniture, according to the press release. His misuse of the political group's funds even extended to cover personal bills and a family member’s funeral expenses, which added up to over $85,000.
The investigation, led by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, culminated in Jordan facing the possibility of a 20-year prison sentence for each count of wire fraud. Jordan's sentencing is set for November 19th. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen and Special Assistant United States Attorney James E. Price. The sad truth is that both a community of faith and a body of political trust have been compromised by one of their own, left to reckon with the aftershocks of betrayal and the rebuilding of integrity that must now follow.
