Cronin pleads guilty to fraud

AKRON — Maureen A. Cronin, a former Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge, has pleaded guilty in federal court to two felony counts of honest services mail fraud.

Cronin, of Canfield Road, Youngstown, entered her plea at her arraignment this morning before U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi.

Cronin can expect a 12-18-month federal prison sentence, a source familiar with the FBI investigation said.

Cronin, who served as a common pleas judge from 1995 to 2007, pleaded guilty to taking and concealing an $18,000 no-interest cash loan, with no collateral or payment schedule, from a senior executive of a business that had more than 50 civil lawsuits before her.

After taking the loan in the back seat of the executive’s car, she made no payments on it as she continued to preside over the company’s cases, the prosecution said.

After entering her plea, former Judge Cronin left the court without comment. Sentencing will be at noon Feb. 23.

For details, see Wednesday's Vindicator or watch Vindy.com.