Friday, November 18, 2005
The former acting city engineer will be on supervised release when he gets out of prison.
CLEVELAND -- David Robison, Warren's former acting city engineer, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison on 19 counts of mail fraud and one count each of extortion and racketeering.
The sentence was imposed Thursday on Robison, 52, of Cortland, by U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver.
Robison must also make restitution of $21,022 and pay a special assessment of $2,100. After his release, he will be on supervised release for two years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall had alleged that Robison took bribes and kickbacks from construction projects in Warren.
In a plea agreement, signed by Robison, his lawyer, Thomas Schubert of Warren, and Kall, the government agreed to drop one count of conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act and one count of extortion under the Hobbs Act.
In the plea agreement, both the prosecution and defense had agreed on a likely sentencing range of 33 to 41 months in prison.
Robison admitted Aug. 24 taking bribes and kickbacks for construction projects from the early 1990s through mid-July 2000. The scheme ripped off the city for demolition work and housing rehabilitation, among other items.
When he pleaded guilty, Robison admitted he had "dishonored my fellow workers, the citizens of my community, my friends and my family." He added that he hoped the citizens of Warren would still have faith and respect for their public officials.
Here was the crime
The government said contractors and entities paid bribes to Robison, with the help of James Lapmardo, a former Warren building inspector.
Lapmardo, 49, of Perkinswood Drive Southeast, Warren, pleaded guilty last year to racketeering acts, including extortion, and was given a sentence of three years and five months.
Also in January, Gregory G. Petrasek, 48, of Akron, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, setting the stage for the former Ohio Edison manager to assist the government in its case against Robison.
Petrasek's plea concerned filing a fraudulent insurance claim. He had resigned more than two years ago from Ohio Edison. Judge Oliver sentenced him in October to two years' probation and a $1,000 fine, plus $5,128 in restitution.
Petrasek had devised a scheme to defraud Erie Insurance Group, Westfield Companies, Avalon South Golf Club and Ohio Edison to obtain money by means of false and fraudulent pretenses and representations. At the time, the golf course was owned by Warren.
Insurance fraud
Petrasek's fraud was carried out with the help of Robison, the government said. Robison carried insurance with Westfield Companies; Petrasek, with Erie Insurance Group.
Robison's golf clubs were stolen June 30, 1999, but Petrasek reported that his were also. They turned the thefts in to their insurance companies.
Robison ordered clubs worth $2,110, and Petrasek ordered clubs worth $2,469 from Avalon. The prices represented discounts of 20 percent to 25 percent, said Petrasek's plea agreement.
Erie paid Petrasek $4,384, and Westfield paid Robison $2,525.
When Avalon inquired about payment for the clubs, the golf course was given a $3,000 electric bill credit from Ohio Edison that Petrasek arranged. The golf course still had a balance due of $1,579 for the clubs.
Petrasek also arranged for a $640 Ohio Edison credit to Robison's personal account, the government said.