ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is expected to be released from prison this June, more than four years ahead of his original 2030 release date, according to a close friend.
Pawlowski, who was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in 2018, was originally scheduled for release in August 2030.
Alan Jennings, a longtime advocate for the former mayor, told 69 News that Pawlowski will first be discharged to a halfway house upon his release.
Jennings, who has maintained that the original sentence was excessive, said it is “about time” Pawlowski was released.
In 2018, Pawlowski was convicted of 47 federal counts, including bribery, fraud, and corruption. While a federal appeals court upheld those convictions in 2022, Pawlowski signed a “contrition letter” in October 2024. In the letter, he described himself as a “naive politician” and blamed his downfall on a combination of his own ego, poor judgment, and the influence of political consultants.
According to Jennings, Pawlowski has depleted his savings and pension—not to fund his legal defense, but to pay court-ordered restitution.