Prison For Delco Man Who Defrauded Religious, Political Organizations

UPPER DARBY, PA — A Delaware County man who is a former deacon and trustee for a Philadelphia religious organization was sentenced to prison time recently after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud in July.

Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, was sentenced to one year in prison and one year of supervised release, as well as ordered to pay $142,991 in restitution and to forfeit $142,991, federal authorities said.

Authorities said Jordan was a deacon and trustee for a Philadelphia religious organization.

As such, he was responsible for managing and overseeing various financial matters involving the organization, including collecting funds for the organization, depositing those funds in the organization’s bank accounts, and paying the organization’s expenses.

The organization put Jordan in a position of trust and allowed him to exercise almost total control over its funds. Jordan did not receive a salary from in this role. Rather, he received his salary from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he was a Director of Operations for a state senator.

From at least in or about January 2020 through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited the organization for his personal financial benefit, according to authorities.

On a regular basis, he improperly issued checks to himself from the organization's business checking account, and made it appear that such checks were to reimburse him for expenses that he incurred on behalf of the organization.

Jordan did not incur those expenses and simply issued those checks for his personal benefit. Authorities said he also engaged in this activity fraudulently and without the knowledge or permission of the organization its trustees, or members.

As part of this scheme, Jordan issued about 82 fraudulent checks to himself totaling approximately $57,384, resulting in significant losses.

Jordan also was the elected leader of political in Philadelphia, and controlled and managed the organization’s finances from 1996 to April 2025, according to officials. He did not receive a salary for this work.

This organization was one of 66 wards in Philadelphia and a subdivision of another group, which authorities called Political Organization No. 2. This group represented the interests of a political party in the City of Philadelphia.

From about January 2020, through about January 2024, Jordan exploited the first political organization for his personal financial benefit, authorities said.

He opened two bank accounts in the name of that organization, made himself the sole signatory on the accounts in the name of the organization, and obtained, for both accounts, debit cards that he controlled.

Jordan improperly financial transactions — through debit card charges, checks, and ATM cash withdrawals — using the organization’s bank accounts to transfer the group's funds to himself or others, for his personal benefit.

Authorities said he used the organization’s funds for personal purchases at airlines, car dealerships, furniture stores, grocery stores, and other retail establishments. He also used those funds to pay his personal credit card bills, utility bills, and cellular telephone bills.

In summer 2023, Jordan used these funds to pay more than $12,500 in expenses for a family member’s funeral. He also engaged in these personal financial transactions without any benefit flowing to the organization and without the knowledge or permission of its members.

In total, Jordan defrauded the organization and its members of at least $85,607, authorities said.