Ohio inspector general criticizes improper prison purchases

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state watchdog says the former deputy director of Ohio’s prison system wrongly steered a $120,000 contract to a college fraternity brother.

The state inspector general says Michael Randle referred an Israeli company that manufactures inmate-tracking devices to Ohio company KBK Enterprises.

Company President Keith Key was in a fraternity with Randle at Ohio State University.

The inspector said today the state could have purchased the equipment directly from the Israeli company, called Elmo-Tech, and avoided KBK’s $40,000 markup.

Randle did not tell the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction about his relationship with Key.

A message was left with Randle, now the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.