John Waltman Removed

John Waltman, a Magisterial District Judge in Bucks County, Pennsylvania from 2011 to December 2016, was sentenced to 78 months (6.5 years) in federal prison after pleading guilty in January 2019 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and Hobbs Act extortion. Prosecutors found that Waltman, along with co-defendants Bernard Rafferty and Robert Hoopes, ran a scheme extorting bribes and kickbacks from Bucks County businessmen while Waltman held judicial office, and conspired to launder money for people they believed were involved in narcotics trafficking and healthcare fraud. At sentencing, Waltman told the court, "I've completely betrayed your trust."

After completing his federal sentence, Waltman was released — and two weeks later was arrested and charged with three counts of DUI along with several traffic violations, after a blood test showed a blood alcohol content of .19, more than twice Pennsylvania's legal limit.