Every year on December 9th is International Anti-Corruption Day, an unfortunately little-known but tremendously important annual observance of the importance of our global work to enact the institutional systems necessary to prevent corruption. Each year, I will share some reflections from the previous year on the progress and setbacks toward the goal of a corruption-free World.
Note
Originally published on January 14, 2022 on Medium, now updated and hosted here.
Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.
— Deuteronomy 16:19 (New International Version)
My name is Eron Lloyd. I was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, and I spent the majority of my life living in and working to improve my hometown. On November 30th, 2015, I plead guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bribery in Federal court, and became a felon for my actions as a public official of the City of Reading.
Having my career and much of my life’s work end this way was a heartbreaking and personally devastating experience for me and my family. It was a shock to the many friends and allies I worked closely with on nearly a decade of efforts, and signaled the end of what I hoped to be a lifetime of public service continuing the work I started in the city.
It’s now been nine years since that happened and, despite the hardship I experienced, I believe I’m a much better person having gone through what I did. It was the most costly education I’ve ever paid for, but I would not give up what I’ve learned to go back in time and avoid it. I’ve stayed relatively silent for the first six years while I pieced my life back together, but I’m ready to share my story.