Husband and Wife Charged with Bribery

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
25 August 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging Nazik Modawi and her husband Abboud Wali with conspiracy and bribery, announced Acting United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, the defendants made two bribe payments in November through December 2016 to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) employees for the purpose of expediting their application for a certification from SEPTA’s disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program. SEPTA employees immediately reported the cash payments to authorities.

The charge of conspiracy carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; charges of bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the SEPTA Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise S. Wolf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.