TIME LINE Purchasing probe

Here's a breakdown of key events centered on the investigation into Trumbull County's purchasing practices:
Aug. 4, 2002: The Vindicator begins running news articles about sky-high expenses and poor bookkeeping in the maintenance department.
Sept. 1: The county prosecutor and the sheriff ask the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to begin looking into the purchasing of maintenance department supplies.
Sept. 13: Acting on the advice of county Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, the board of county commissioners suspends doing business with LID Chemical Inc. and Tri-County Supplies.
Sept. 20: Watkins asks commissioners cease all ordering of janitorial and maintenance supplies. Maintenance department director Anthony Delmont and his administrative assistant have duties temporarily adjusted so that they are not involved with ordering or receiving supplies.
Oct. 29: A team of employees working under the direction of the county prosecutor finds a pattern of poor bookkeeping at the maintenance department, excessive purchases and missing money from feminine product dispensing machines.
November: County commissioners appoints two retired purchasing directors to a volunteer blue ribbon committee. The committee helps come up with ways for the county to order and receive supplies.
December 2002 to now: Local grand jury continues to hear evidence on maintenance purchasing.
February 2003: Delmont is involved in an accident in a county truck and files for workers' compensation; does not return to work.
March 19: Countywide layoffs result in emptying of 19 of 30 maintenance department positions. Two employees were recalled this week.
May: Barry Jacobson, co-owner of Envirochemical, admits to Vindicator reporters that he sold toilet bowl cleaner for $25 a case to Lyndhurst, where he was mayor, but charged Trumbull County up to $169 per case for the same product.
Sept. 18: Jacobson pleads guilty to charges that he bribed Delmont in order to get county business.
Sept. 26: Delmont and his wife, Karen, are indicted. Tony Delmont is indicted on a charge of money laundering, theft in office and five counts of bribery. Karen Delmont is indicted on one charge of money laundering. Both plead innocent.
Source: Vindicator files