Ex-chief’s former pal faces computer scam term


January 14, 2014 at 8:33a.m.

Ex-chief’s former pal faces computer scam term

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A businessman and former friend of Pittsburgh’s ex-police chief faces a federal court sentencing for bribing a city official to get a $327,000 contract to put radios and computers in city police cars.

Arthur Bedway Jr. pleaded guilty in August and will be sentenced today. Bedway contends former police chief Nathan Harper came up with the idea and was paid $10,000 for his role in it. Harper’s attorneys have repeatedly denied that.

Another city employee, Christine Kebr, faces sentencing next month in the scheme.

Kebr pleaded guilty in December 2012 to taking $6,000 in bribes from Bedway to help his business, Alpha Outfitters, land the contract in 2007. Kebr says she took the bribes to prepare bids that made it appear Bedway’s business was owned by a woman to take advantage of city set-asides for female-owned businesses.