FBI swoops on Cuyahoga County officials in corruption probe

CLEVELAND (AP) — FBI and IRS agents served at least 10 search warrants Monday at Cuyahoga County offices and homes as part of a public corruption investigation.

About 200 FBI agents descended on the county administration building in Cleveland. Agents, some brought in from Pittsburgh to help with the searches, also searched the county engineer’s office and an information services center.

“This stems from a long-term public corruption investigation,” FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said. “The warrants are sealed through the court and basically I cannot comment on anything that’s being searched or seized.”

A contingent of about 10 people from the FBI appeared at the county’s information services center. Staffers were told they could go home because they wouldn’t be able to work.

About 80 are employed at the center, which does computer work for various county agencies.

Businesses and homes, including County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s, were searched, The Plain Dealer reported on its Web site.

At least nine FBI cars were spotted at Dimora’s suburban Independence home. Six cars were at county Auditor Frank Russo’s home.

County Administrator James McCafferty said agents came into the administration building with a search warrant for Dimora’s office on the fourth floor.

McCafferty said the county is cooperating with the investigation.