Congressman’s son disputes U.S. fraud indictment
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A congressman’s son says a federal indictment charging him with bank fraud and theft is “politically motivated.”
Chaka Fattah Jr. is charged with using business loans to pay off gambling and personal debts, and cheating the Philadelphia School District out of federal education funds.
The 31-year-old Fattah has been released on bail Tuesday without entering a plea.
He says he ran his own consulting business, and was free to move money as he pleased from business to personal accounts.
The indictment says he lied on bank papers to secure more than $200,000 in loans, and spent $30,000 to settle gambling debts.
Federal authorities also say he inflated the amount his company spent on the program for at-risk students.
The defendant is the son of Democratic U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah.