Ex-East Washington chief pleads guilty in extortion case

EAST WASHINGTON, Pa. — A former southwestern Pennsylvania police chief has pleaded guilty to three counts of extortion.

Donald Solomon, the ex-chief of East Washington Borough, entered the plea Friday before a federal judge in Pittsburgh.

Solomon was fired in November 2011. That was a month after a grand jury charged him with accepting money from an FBI agent posing as a drug dealer and illegally selling the agent stun guns.

Solomon was also charged with extorting money by providing protection for fake drug transactions. In addition, authorities allege he threatened a politician and a former girlfriend, the latter resulting in a drive-by shooting that damaged a car.

Solomon faces up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced May 3.

WPXI