Philadelphia Revenue Department supervisor arrested

    A Philadelphia city worker is facing bribery charges.
    Mark Holt has worked for the city almost 20 years, and lately his job was reviewing applications for tax abatements. Curtis Douglas is a deputy in the investigations division of the District Attorney’s office. He says City Councilman Jack Kelly tipped off the D.A.’s office.

    A Philadelphia city worker is facing bribery charges.

    Mark Holt has worked for the city almost 20 years, and lately his job was reviewing applications for tax abatements.

    Curtis Douglas is a deputy in the investigations division of the District Attorney’s office.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    He says City Councilman Jack Kelly tipped off the D.A.’s office.

    Douglas: He was contacted by a long-time friend who had applied for a real-estate tax abatement.  That contractor was contacted by someone from the Department of Revenue who wanted cash payment.

    District Attorneys detectives set up a sting operation posing as a contractor and met up with Holt giving him an envelope with close to five thousand dollars in cash –  then making the arrest.

    Douglas says the investigation is continuing and there is a possibility of more arrests.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal