Michael Daniels, a former constituent services representative for Councilmember Cindy Bass, was sentenced to 90 days in jail last week after illegally collecting pandemic unemployment funds despite being employed by Bass’ office. He was also ordered to repay the nearly $30,000 in funds he received from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Daniels was charged in June. 

Daniels “filed a PUA application stating that he was not working and had lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” a court docket related to the case said. “However, these statements on defendant Daniels’ application were false.”

According to Virginia Folino, director of human resources for City Council, Daniels was hired by Bass in January of 2018. He was then transferred to the City Commissioners Office in April of this year and transferred back to Bass’ office one month later, in May. On June 27, five days after he was charged by federal officials, he was transferred yet again to the City Commissioners Office. 

When the Local reached out to the City Commissioners Office for comment in July, agency officials were “not aware of the charges against Mr. Daniels,” Deputy City Commissioner Nick Custodio said. As of Friday, Custodio said, Daniels “has been suspended pending an investigation into this matter.”

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s office, Daniels certified repeatedly that he was unemployed and not receiving any income despite being employed and paid by the City of Philadelphia.

“I can make excuses all day in regard to how I feel these charges were brought about,” Daniels said in court last week, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But that’s another story…Did I make a bad decision? Yes.”

In an emailed statement to the Local, Bass called Daniels’ actions “disappointing.”

“Unfortunately, Mike is one of a number of city employees, including from the D.A.'s office and others who took this action,” she added. “He has admitted his error in judgment, and I wish him well.”

Vincent Rotondi, who was employed as a detective by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, also pleaded guilty to pandemic fraud. He is awaiting sentencing. 

Daniels’ sentencing comes on the heels of the sentencing of Ingrid Shepard, president and treasurer for the now-shuttered Germantown Special Services District, who was appointed to her position by Bass in 2015. In January, Shepard pleaded guilty to embezzling up to $125,000 in public funds from that organization over a four-year period ending in 2019.