PHILADELPHIA (October 27, 2026) — District Attorney Larry Krasner and the DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force today announced charges against Hassan Bennett, chair of the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission, for selling sensitive information regarding a witness in a domestic violence case.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office approved the following charges against Hassan Bennett (DOB 3/16/1983) and Thomas Scott (DOB 11/12/1980):
- Intimidation of Witness/Victim (F1)
- Conspiracy (F1)
- Bribery (F3)
- Criminal Use of Communication Facility (F3)
In August of 2026, the Gun Violence Task Force became aware that defendant Thomas Scott was on recorded prison calls and social media attempting to intimidate a witness for an attempted murder case. Scott was recorded saying various concerning things, including that he was searching for the witness’s location, that the witness needs to recant his statement, that he would blow down the witness in broad daylight, and that the whole purpose of his social media posts was to prevent the witness from coming to court.
During one of these calls, investigators heard Scott speaking with defendant Hassan Bennett. Bennett was reading the arrest report of the attempted murder case to Scott. Bennett also provided Scott with the witness’s full name. Bennett is the chair of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission and an employee of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Scott told Bennett that he needed a copy of the paperwork and offered to provide Bennett $500. Based on a digital analysis, investigators confirmed that Scott did obtain those documents and was sending them to various individuals in order to intimidate the witness in the open case.
Bennett was previously convicted of second-degree murder in 2008, but was acquitted in 2019 during a retrial after one of the victims and a co-defendant both testified that their statements or previous testimony implicating Bennett had been coerced by a then-homicide detective.
“Our criminal legal system relies on victims and witnesses coming forward to provide information and, in many cases, testify in court. As a result, our office takes their safety very seriously, and any time someone tries to intimidate a witness or engages in conduct that threatens the safety of a witness, we will act with swiftness and determination,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “Defendant Hassan Bennett not only committed serious crimes, but in doing so has violated the public’s trust. His actions are not a reflection on the work of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission or the Defender Association of Philadelphia.”
“It is absolutely disgraceful that someone who was entrusted to provide critical oversight of police officers and employed by the Defender Association of Philadelphia would engage in selling sensitive information that could have resulted in serious harm to a victim,” said Assistant District Attorney William Fritze, chief of the DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force and director of GVTF’s Digital Forensics Lab. “We are grateful for the collaboration with our local, state and federal partners. This investigation would not be possible without the joint cooperation of the Attorney General’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons Security and Intelligence Unit, and the FBI.”
“The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Unit is committed to ensuring that victims and witnesses of all crimes in Philadelphia have access to support, guidance, and resources throughout the prosecution process,” said Mariel Delacruz, director of the DAO’s Victim Services Unit. “We recognize that every individual’s experience and needs are unique. Our team works to assess safety concerns, identify individualized needs, and connect victims, survivors, co-survivors, and witnesses with appropriate services and resources. Our commitment extends beyond the courtroom. We work to ensure that every person we serve feels heard, supported, informed, and empowered as they navigate the criminal justice system.”
This investigation was led by Attorney General Agent Dustin Gremo, who is a Gun Violence Task Force Agent and a Task Force Officer with the FBI. The lead criminal investigative analyst in this investigation is Olivia Law who has assisted and will continue to assist investigators with the digital evidence.
Defendant Thomas Scott is being held on $3 million bail and defendant Hassan Bennett is being held on $1 million bail.
CONTACT:
Solomon D. Leach, [email protected]