INVESTIGATION Water workers face extortion charges

More charges are expected this week.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Two employees in the city's Division of Water are accused of steering at least $160,000 in business to two companies in return for money or computer equipment.
The charges are the result of an ongoing investigation that also has resulted in the filing of federal charges this month.
"It's going to continue. We're looking internally, and the feds are continuing their investigation," Water Commissioner Julius Ciaccia said. "We need to clean it up."
Ciaccia said more charges are expected this week.
James Stallworth, 52, and Kenneth McNeil, 38, both of Cleveland, were charged with conspiracy to commit extortion as public officials. The men worked as managers at the division's Harvard Yard warehouse.
Court papers
Stallworth accepted $20,000 from an unidentified company and two $5,000 payments that he used to buy two cars, according to court papers filed Friday.
The complaint says the company received more than $150,000 in business from the Water Division.
McNeil is accusing of receiving a computer system worth $1,000 from workers at Woodhill Supply. The division gave more than $10,000 worth of business to the Willoughby company, according to the charges.
Stallworth's attorney, Reginald Maxton, said his client will cooperate and pay back the city. He said Stallworth was having financial problems when he was approached about the scheme.
"He's an extremely good guy," Maxton said. "He got himself in an unfortunate situation, and he's standing up and accepting responsibility for it."
McNeil's attorney, Jaye Schlachet, declined to comment.
Accusations
Woodhill's president and a salesman for the company were accused Wednesday of paying bribes to Water Division employees.
Last week, federal prosecutors charged a businessman with buying a Water Division employee a $30,000 car in 1997 in exchange for steering business to his company.