Delmont, key figure in purchasing scandal, dies at 54

Staff report

CLEVELAND

Tony Delmont, the central figure in the Trumbull County purchasing scandal that resulted in prison terms for Delmont and others, died in a Cleveland hospital Tuesday.

Delmont, 54, of Cortland, was released from prison in June 2008 after serving two years of a three-year prison sentence because his death was expected within six months from acute lymphocytic leukemia, hypertension and diabetes.

Delmont, who had been the county maintenance director, was convicted in 2006 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court of theft in office, bribery and money laundering.

Delmont bought maintenance and cleaning supplies in huge quantities and at exorbitant prices. Investigators said the activities of Delmont and a number of vendors doing work with the county resulted in $400,000 worth of theft between 1999 and 2002, when the purchasing probe began.

Fines collected from various individuals charged in the scandal was about $300,000, including $60,000 in restitution from Delmont.

Delmont said he gave $50,000 to elected officials, but no officials were charged after an investigation conducted by Atty. Vic Vigliucci, Portage County prosecutor working as special prosecutor.

When Delmont was released from prison in June 2008, Dr. Martin Akusoba, director of the medical services at Ohio’s Corrections Medical Center in Columbus, said Delmont was “in imminent danger of death” as a result of his illnesses and had less than six months to live.