Cleveland judge indicted in corruption probe

CLEVELAND (AP) — The former Democratic Party chairman in Cleveland was led away from his home in handcuffs by FBI agents today and indicted on charges of bribery and mail fraud, signaling investigators are nearing the end of a federal corruption investigation that has led to more than 30 arrests.

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, the top target of the corruption probe, was arrested at about 7 a.m. at his suburban Cleveland home. The 31-count indictment — which also named a county judge up for re-election — alleged that Dimora took bribes for nearly a decade.

The indictment also names Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Bridget McCafferty, a labor union leader, a contractor and two county employees.

Judge McCafferty was charged with lying to FBI investigators when she denied that Dimora tried to intervene in cases in her court. Her attorney didn’t return a call seeking comment.