S. Phila pastor charged in inspection scam

CENTER CITY - May 20, 2011 (WPVI) -- Authorities in Philadelphia have arrested a South Philadelphia pastor and another man and charged them with bilking a Germantown man out of $10,000.

Police say Rev. Richard Cobb, 57, of Brookhaven, Pa., a pastor at St. Mark's Baptist Church in South Philadelphia, persuaded Brian K. Davis, 33, of Philadelphia to pose as a Licenses and Inspections (L & I) inspector in order to swindle a property owner in Germantown.

It happened in 2010.

Davis allegedly collected more than $10,000 from the owner for bogus violations at a property in the 5300 block of Wayne Avenue in Germantown.

Police say the property owner told them Cobb helped him make arrangements to pay Davis over the course of several months. Davis then allegedly gave Cobb a portion of the proceeds in cash and used some of the money to pay rent, police say.

The scam came to light after a real L & I inspector cited the property owner for an actual violation. The owner protested, telling authorities that he had already paid numerous fines to L & I. L & I records showed no payments had been received.

Police arrested Cobb on April 8, 2011. He was charged with theft, criminal solicitation and related offenses. Davis was arrested on April 27, 2011 and charged with theft, conspiracy, impersonating a public servant and related offenses.

Cobb and Davis have been released on bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 8, 2011.

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philadelphia, pennsylvania, scam, south philadelphia, germantown, crime

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