Final figure in Ohio corruption probe gets 6 years

COLUMBUS (AP) — Federal authorities say the final figure in a long-running corruption probe in Ohio’s largest county has been sentenced to prison time.

J. Kevin Kelley, a former Cuyahoga County employee and Parma School Board member, was sentenced today to six years in prison and ordered to pay more than $600,000 for his involvement in several bribery schemes.

The FBI says the 44-year-old Kelley is the last of more than 60 indicted people to be sentenced in the investigation surrounding bribes paid to elected county officials in return for contracts.

Authorities say Kelley was paid for what was billed as consulting services and then used a portion of the money to buy first-class airfare to Las Vegas and other perks for county officials including a commissioner and an auditor now serving time in federal prison.

Kelley pleaded guilty to various charges.