Fortunato 'Fred' Perri Sr. pleads guilty in Traffic Court scandal

In a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to four charges in connection with his time as administrative judge at the city's Traffic Court.

     Fortunato “Fred” Perri Sr., former administrative judge of Philadelphia’s Traffic Court, today pleaded guilty to four counts in connection with a ticket-fixing scheme at the court.

     In a plea deal, Perri, 76, admitted he was guilty of the charges brought by federal prosecutors in February.

     According to the charging documents, Perri received free auto repairs and towing services for his car, along with gifts of unspecified videos and seafood in exchange for the preferential treatment he arranged for Henry P. “Eddie” Alfano, a Southwest Philadelphia businessman and former police officer.

     Court-authorized intercepted phone calls revealed that Perri made it a priority to assist Alfano.

     U.S. District Judge Robert Kelly told Perri from the bench that he could face up to 65 years in prison when he is sentenced on June 21.

     Later, Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Wolf said there was nothing in the plea agreement that stipulated Perri would be a cooperating witness and nothing that precluded it. She also said he could face sentencing of house arrest or probation.

     Perri, who looked frail, has suffered two strokes within the last year, and shuffled out of the courtroom after entering the plea. He leaned on his attorney, Brian McMonagle, as he left.

     Perri was among 12 people who were charged by indictment or information with the scandal at Traffic Court. He was among the jurists accused of giving preferential treatment to family members, friends and the politically connected who came to court with tickets issued for moving violations. ••