Debt collector indicted for bribery in Chicago federal court

CHICAGO (AP) - Federal prosecutors say the owner of Pennsylvania debt collection company faces charges he tried to bribe county clerks in Illinois and Florida to obtain business from their offices.

Prosecutors said Friday that Penn Credit Corp. owner Donald Donagher Jr. has been indicted on six counts. Officials accuse the 67-year-old of trying to make payments to influence the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk along with three Florida county clerks.

Prosecutors accuse Donagher of making campaign donations, financially sponsoring events and providing free or discounted robocalls on behalf of certain clerks' campaign.

Cook County Clerk Dorothy Brown's spokeswoman says Donagher never approached Brown or her office "improperly in any way or at any time." Donagher's attorney, Theodore Poulos, says his client "acted legally and in good faith" and the allegations are false.