Airport consultant hit with new tax, fraud charges

A Bryn Mawr airport consultant who recently pleaded guilty to fraud related to political contributions to Mayor Street was indicted yesterday on new fraud and tax charges.

Joseph Moderski was accused of evading $600,000 worth of taxes between 1999 and 2004, and of defrauding the City of Philadelphia and an airport advertising firm of more than $180,000.

In September, Moderski, 69, pleaded guilty to illegally funneling corporate funds to Mayor Street's 2003 mayoral campaign. He is scheduled to be sentenced on those charges in March. The two cases against Moderski are "completely unrelated crimes," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joan Markman.

Moderski's lawyer, William Spade, declined to comment yesterday. - John Shiffman