🌱8 Police Workers Accused Of Fraud + Lawncrest Gas Station Crash

Hey, Philadelphia! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's what's happening today in town.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 48 Low: 29.

Here are the top stories in Philadelphia today:

1. Eight Philadelphia Police Department civilian employees have been federally charged with fraud and theft after authorities said they illegally got pandemic unemployment assistance while working for the department. United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said eight people are federally charged with one count of mail or wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw will suspend these employees for 30 days with the intent to dismiss at the end of the 30 days upon completion of arrest procedures. (Philadelphia Patch)
2. A would-be thief smashed a vehicle into a gas station minimart in order to gain access inside the store, Philadelphia police say. It happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday at Rising Sun and Adam avenues in Lawncrest. Police say the driver crashed into the front window of the Sunoco A Plus. (WPVI-TV)
3. The Philadelphia Police Department is helping those in need this holiday season. The department’s 52nd annual Operation Thanksgiving is underway on Tuesday. Officers and civilian employees of the department are now busy making deliveries. They’re providing dinner baskets to 315 families across the city. (CBS Philly)
4. The former president and CEO of Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market is heading to prison for the next decade after he defrauded the business of more than $7.8 million. Caesar DiCrecchio, 60, of Voorhees, Camden County has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay over $8 million in restitution. DiCrecchio pled guilty in April to two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of money laundering, one count of aggravated identity theft and four counts of tax evasion. (PhillyVoice.com)
5. The recipients of the 2022 Take the Lead Greater Philadelphia award have been announced, and four prominent women leaders have been selected. Created by Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Take the Lead is an initiative that allows high school-aged Girl Scouts to pair with inspiring women leaders from Greater Philadelphia and shadow them for a day to gain valuable insight into their careers and receive guidance to jumpstart their professional networks. Each year, GSEP tasks a committee of past Take the Lead honorees to select the following year’s honorees. (AL DIA News)

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Today in Philadelphia:

• National Jukebox Day - Abraham Lincoln (All Day)
• Thanksgiving Celebrations - U School (All Day)
• Member Meeting - The Alliance of Community Service Providers (9:30 AM)
• Storytime at the Goat Statue - Philadelphia City Institute Library (10:00 AM)
• Community Concert Series - Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (4:00 PM)
• Evening Book Club Online - Yeadon Public Library (6:00 PM)

Philadelphia Patch Notebook

• Philadelphia Police Department: "Wanted: Suspects for Shooting Incident/Victim in the 39th District [VIDEO] https://blotter.sites.phillypolice.com/2021/11/wanted-suspects-for-shooting-incident-victim-in-the-39th-district-video/" (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Police Department: "Wanted: Suspect for Fatal Hit and Run in the 25th District https://blotter.sites.phillypolice.com/2021/11/wanted-suspect-for-fatal-hit-and-run-in-the-25th-district/" (Facebook)
• Philadelphia Department of Revenue: "Plan ahead! PhilaRevenue’s Center City location will be closed Thursday, November 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday." (Facebook)
• City of Philadelphia Government: "🍂 Start a new holiday tradition by volunteering at a meal site!" (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Byrant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.