Two brothers who were both senior City of Philadelphia officials — Leo Dignam and Paul Dignam — were federally charged with embezzling funds intended for city recreational activities and a youth baseball organization.

City of Philadelphia — Dignam Brothers Embezzlement (2015–2020)

Outcome: Brothers Leo Dignam and Paul Dignam, both senior City of Philadelphia officials, were federally charged in November 2020 with embezzling funds intended for city recreational activities and a youth baseball organization.

Leo Dignam, 61, served as the city official overseeing major Philadelphia public events including the Philadelphia Marathon, Broad Street Run, and Mummers Parade. His brother Paul Dignam, 58, held a separate senior position within city government. Both exploited their access to city recreational and youth program funds for personal gain.

Paul Dignam wrote himself approximately 102 checks totaling approximately $119,000 from accounts intended for youth programming and city recreational activities. Leo Dignam was charged with two counts of wire fraud and one count of embezzling from a program receiving federal funds. Paul Dignam was charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of embezzling from a program receiving federal funds.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The scheme illustrates how insider access to program accounts — without adequate oversight — enables systematic self-dealing over extended periods.

Primary Source: Two Brothers, Both Senior City of Philadelphia Officials, Charged with Fraud and Embezzlement