ENVIROCHEMICAL Salesman pays county $40K for over-billing

The salesman still owes the county $100,000.
WARREN -- A salesman with Envirochemical of Bedford Heights has paid half the amount he owes Trumbull County for over-billing the county for cleaning supplies, prosecutors say.
Barry Jacobson gave county officials a $40,000 check Wednesday. It is Jacobson's third payment.
"He is actually ahead of schedule," said Prosecutor Dennis Watkins. "He has now paid us a total of $100,000. He had until September to pay that amount."
Jacobson still owes $100,000, Watkins said.
The former mayor of Lyndhurst made his first payment in September 2003 when he pleaded guilty to one charge each of bribery and complicity to theft in office, both third-degree felonies. The plea was made in a continuing investigation into Trumbull County purchasing practices that was prompted by stories in The Vindicator starting in August 2002.
Jacobson, who is scheduled to be sentenced after the investigation is completed, agreed as part of his plea agreement to pay $200,000, prosecutors say.
The total is to be paid by 2007.
"Well, I'm glad we are getting something because this investigation has taken a long time," said Commissioner James Tsagaris. "At least we got a check for $40,000. Maybe the clerk of courts can use that to buy her stamps."
Commissioners Paul Hetzel and Dan Polivka could not be reached.
Investigation
Watkins started investigating the maintenance department's purchasing practices in September 2002. Since that time, seven people have been indicted and three have pleaded guilty. As part of the pleas, Watkins made sure the county will be reimbursed a total of $277,000.
Last year, Watkins had a special prosecutor appointed to the probe to determine if any local elected officials took part in the scam. The investigation is ongoing.
Watkins has said Jacobson's company was selling supplies to the county at prices inflated as much as 500 percent. He cited a can of wasp spray for $73 as an example.
Jacobson sold more than $923,000 worth of janitorial supplies to Trumbull County over six years.
Jacobson, who was co-owner and vice president of Envirochemical, resigned as an officer of the company in September 2003. At that time he ceased all official duties related to the management of the corporation, according to a press statement released from The Oppidan Group, a pubic affairs firm hired by Envirochemical.
The county cut off business with Envirochemical in September 2002 at the recommendation of Watkins.