Former Pennsylvania Treasurer Robert M. McCord Sentenced To 30 Months’ Imprisonment For Attempted Extortion

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that former Pennsylvania State Treasurer Robert M. McCord, age 59, currently residing in Long Branch, New Jersey, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, for two counts of attempted extortion.

Judge Jones also ordered McCord to pay a $5,000 fine and to report to the Bureau of Prisons on October 29, 2018.                     

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, McCord served as the Pennsylvania State Treasurer from 2008 until he resigned in February 2015. During late April and early May 2014, McCord attempted to extort campaign contributions from a law firm and a property management company while he was running for Governor by threatening economic harm to the potential donors if they failed to make sufficient campaign contributions. In particular, McCord threatened to use his position as State Treasurer to interfere with the business that the law firm and property management firm were conducting with the state if they did not make the contributions.

“As Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a candidate for Governor, McCord attempted to obtain political contributions by threatening retaliation against those who refused,” said U.S. Attorney Freed.  “McCord’s official actions to benefit his friends and punish his foes compromised the integrity of the Treasury and directly damaged the citizens of Pennsylvania.  Although public corruption investigations are lengthy, difficult and complex, they have been and will remain a priority of our office.  Our oaths demand it and the public deserves it.  I commend the outstanding work of the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police and thank them for their continued commitment to rooting out corruption in Pennsylvania.”

“Rob McCord crossed the line from fundraising to felonies, when he attempted to extort potential donors to fund his gubernatorial campaign,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Trying to further his own ambitions, he abused his position of public trust. The FBI will continue to investigate public corruption and hold those responsible accountable, to send a message to public officials that crime truly doesn’t pay.”

“McCord broke the law and the trust placed in him by the public when he attempted to extort campaign contributions,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Guy Ficco. “McCord’s sentence demonstrates our collective efforts to enforce the law and ensure public trust.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio, William S. Houser, and Gordon A. D. Zubrod prosecuted the case.