Longtime Philly councilman George X. Schwartz, convicted in Abscam corruption case, dies at 95
By APSaturday, March 27, 2010
Schwartz, Pa. councilman convicted in Abscam, dies
PHILADELPHIA — A longtime Philadelphia City Council member whose career was ended by his conviction in the Abscam public corruption case three decades ago has died. George X. Schwartz was 95.
The Joseph Levine & Son funeral home says Schwartz died Friday. The cause of his death hasn’t been disclosed. A funeral is scheduled Sunday.
Schwartz spent more than 20 years as a Philadelphia council member, the last eight as council president.
His career unraveled after he was videotaped in January 1980 accepting $30,000 from an FBI agent posing as a phony sheik’s representative. The agent told Schwartz the sheik planned to build a luxury hotel and wanted to establish relationships with influential public officials.
Schwartz argued he was entrapped. But he was convicted of conspiracy and extortion. He began serving a one-year federal prison sentence in 1985.
