U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr. was indicted over allegations of political corruption, including bribery and illegal use of campaign contributions, U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger announced on Wednesday.

“A Grand Jury indicted Fattah and four associates on racketeering conspiracy charges, accusing them of misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer, charity and campaign funds,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Memeger announced the other four people charged are: Lobbyist Herbert Vederman, 69, of Palm Beach, Florida; Fattah's Congressional District Director Bonnie Bowser, 59, of Philadelphia; Robert Brand, 69, of Philadelphia; and Karen Nicholas, 57, of Williamstown, N.J.

“The public expects their elected officials to act with honesty and integrity,” said Memeger.  “By misusing campaign funds, misappropriating government funds, accepting bribes, and committing bank fraud, as alleged in the Indictment, Congressman Fattah and his co-conspirators have betrayed the public trust and undermined faith in government.”

The indictment alleges that, after his defeat in the 2007 mayoral election in Philadelphia, “Fattah sought to extinguish approximately $130,000 in campaign debt owed to a political consultant by agreeing to arrange for the award of federal grant funds to the consultant.” 

Fattah is also accused of directing the consultant to apply for a $15 million grant (which according to the indictment, he ultimately did not receive) on behalf of a then non-existent non-profit entity. In exchange for Fattah’s efforts to arrange the award of the funds to the non-profit, the consultant allegedly agreed to forgive the debt owed by the campaign.

Other charges include using campaign funds to repay the $23,000 student loan debt of his son, Chaka Fattah Jr.

“As charged in the indictment, Congressman Fattah and his associates embarked on a wide-ranging conspiracy involving bribery, concealment of unlawful campaign contributions and theft of charitable and federal funds to advance their own personal interests,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.

“When elected officials betray the trust and confidence placed in them by the public, the department will do everything we can to ensure that they are held accountable.” Caldwell added.