Bridge painting contractor pleads innocent in bribe case

AKRON -- Painting contractor George Ginnis, 57, of Harmony Lane, Campbell, has pleaded innocent to conspiracy to defraud the federal government and bribery of an Ohio Department Of Transportation bridge inspector.
Ginnis appeared for arraignment Thursday in U.S. District Court. Judge James S. Gwin set bond at $50,000 and trial for Sept. 29.
Ginnis is accused of giving $2,000 to ODOT inspector Jeffrey Burton of Lakewood in April 2001 when Burton was assigned to the Rocky River bridge project. Ginnis also is accused of conspiring with others to bribe unidentified ODOT inspectors, who then allowed substandard performance.
"The object of the conspiracy was to minimize expense and maximize profit," Ginnis' indictment alleges.
The grand jury found that the compensation included "cash, boxes of steaks and seafood, machinery and tickets to sporting related events."
The case is being prosecuted by Thomas E. Getz, an assistant U.S. attorney. It was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Department of Transportation office of the inspector general.