Petrasek placed on probation for fraud

The former Ohio Edison manager faced up to 25 years in prison.
WARREN -- An ex-Ohio Edison Co. manager was placed on probation in U.S. District Court, Cleveland, for his involvement in a fraud case involving the former Avalon South Golf Course.
Gregory G. Petrasek, 48, of Akron, was sentenced Monday by Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. to two years' probation and fined $1,000. He was also ordered to make $5,128 in restitution.
There will be another restitution payment that remains in dispute, said Matthew B. Kall, an assistant U.S. attorney.
Petrasek had faced five to 25 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
Kall declined to comment on the sentencing.
Petrasek's co-defendant, David J. Robison, former acting city engineer, will be sentenced at 10 a.m. Nov. 17 by Judge Oliver.
Petrasek had resigned more than two years ago from Ohio Edison.
About the scheme
According to Petrasek's plea agreement, he devised a scheme to defraud Erie Insurance Group, Westfield Companies, Avalon South and Ohio Edison.
The golf course is owned by Warren city and has since been renamed Old Avalon Golf.
The government said Petrasek's fraud was carried out with the help of Robison. Robison carried insurance with Westfield Companies; Petrasek with Erie Insurance Group.
Robison's golf clubs were stolen June 30, 1999; Petrasek reported that his also were stolen. They turned the thefts in to their insurance companies.
Robison ordered new clubs worth $2,110, and Petrasek ordered new clubs worth $2,469 from Avalon South. The prices represented discounts of 20 percent to 25 percent, says Petrasek's plea agreement.
Erie paid Petrasek's claim, and Westfield paid Robison's claim.
When Avalon South 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.
Guilty plea
In August, Robison, 52, of East Main Street, Cortland, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of mail fraud and one count each of extortion and racketeering. The government asserted that Robison took bribes and kickbacks from construction projects in Warren.
Robison's plea agreement says he will likely be sentenced from 33 to 41 months in federal prison, but the actual sentence will be determined by Judge Oliver.
Robison was accused of 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.
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, has also pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, including extortion, and was sentenced to serve three to five months in jail.