NAME THAT PARTY: Former North Philly State Representative And Sister Plead Guilty

1/22/2015

PHILADELPHIA -

A former North Philadelphia state representative, who was the subject of a FOX 29 investigation, has pleaded guilty to a felony charge and misdemeanor. His sister pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.

Jeff Cole and FOX 29 investigates broke the story of J.P. Miranda and his ghost employee in the spring of 2013.

Miranda and his sister were scheduled to stand trial Wednesday on corruption charges the Philly district attorney hit them with early last year.

Those charges came after FOX 29 Investigates revealed Miranda was paying a worker who just never showed up.

FOX 29 revealed that a worker for the state representative was on the clock – being paid with tax dollars – but spent most of his time at a Strawberry Mansion garage.

When FOX 29 tried to question the state rep., he motored off from his North Philly legislative office.

Philadelphia D.A. Seth Williams took the case to his high-profile Public Corruption Unit, which indicted Miranda and his sister, Michelle Wilson.

Williams alleged Miranda used the ghost worker to funnel money to his sister and then lied about it to a grand jury.

On Tuesday, Miranda and Wilson admitted guilt. Miranda and his sister will be sentenced in March. Their trial had been set to start Wednesday morning.