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Corruption case a minefield
On the side
Chamber breakfast: U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson is the keynote speaker at a Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Government Affairs Council breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 18 at the Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.
Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, will discuss legislative issues including the economy and health care.
For reservations, call Jennifer Mascardine at 330-744-2131 extension 12 or e-mail her at jennifer@regionalchamber.com. Tickets are $20 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.
Mayoral bid? There is talk of Jim Graham, the head of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 at the General Motors Lordstown complex, running for Warren mayor next year. Graham said he has no announcement at this time on a potential mayoral bid. But he’s got at least one supporter.
There is a GMC Yukon parked at the Warren police, court and council chambers building on South Street with a sign in the back window that reads: Jim Graham for Mayor of Warren.
There’s much to consider and write about the Mahoning County Oakhill corruption indictment.
Unfortunately, I have limited space so I have to be choosy.
The 73-count indictment includes charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, perjury, bribery, money laundering, tampering with records, conflict of interest, and soliciting or accepting improper compensation.
The ramifications of the investigation are huge for all seven people charged.
But convictions for county Commissioner John McNally IV, county Auditor Michael Sciortino, and attorney Martin Yavorcik probably mean the end of their professional careers.
If convicted, McNally and Sciortino would be tossed out of office.
Also, the three lawyers would face investigations by the Ohio Supreme Court and could lose their licenses to practice. [They could also face investigations if acquitted of all counts.]
Convictions would probably be embarrassing to Anthony Cafaro Sr., the recently retired president of the family-owned Cafaro Co., and his sister, Flora, who is part-owner of the company but isn’t involved in its day-to-day operations.
I wrote “probably” because their brother, J.J., is already a two-time convicted felon.
The Cafaro Co. and two of its subsidiaries are also included in the indictment. The government could seize company assets based on convictions, but I’ll believe that when I see it.
If convicted, Anthony and Flora have enough money that they can live the rest of their lives in comfort and away from those who would look at them as criminals.
My guess is, if the Cafaros choose to do so, they have enough money to make sure the five others indicted in this case live the rest of their lives in comfort.
Sciortino, in particular, has contended the investigation is politically motivated. The Democrat is seeking re-election in November.
Several of those indicted said investigators had no interest in hearing their side.
Ex-county Treasurer John Reardon, also indicted in this case, said investigators had no interest in hearing his side of the story when he spoke to them three times.
There can be a discussion that the origins of the investigation were politically motivated.
But are we to believe that the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Lorain County prosecutor’s office cooked up a 73-count indictment at the request of “political enemies” of the accused?
“This is a serious and significant investigation,” said David E. Freel, the ethics commission’s executive director.
He compared the level of importance of this investigation to any conducted by his agency including those that resulted in the misdemeanor convictions of then-Gov. Bob Taft and former Attorney General Marc Dann.
Finally, Sciortino probably will not lose the November general election — even under indictment.
It’s highly unlikely the case will go to trial before the election.