CEO of caterer charged

Associated Press

AKRON

Federal prosecutors say the chief executive of a catering service has been charged with helping a county commissioner in Cleveland illegally use campaign funds to pay costs from a 2006 birthday party for his wife.

Authorities say Harlan Diamond, 76, of Executive Caterers at Landerhaven was charged Monday with one count of aiding and abetting mail fraud. Investigators say Diamond and then- Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora schemed to bill costs from the party as part of an invoice for a campaign brunch.

Diamond says in a statement that he plans to plead guilty, was unaware he was breaking the law and was trying to carrying out the wishes of a client. His lawyer, Robert Glickman, says he expects to request probation.

Dimora has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial on bribery charges stemming from an investigation into county corruption that has resulted in the convictions of more than three dozen people.