State Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry to plead guilty to a misdemeanor related to campaign-finance issues

YOUNGSTOWN — The Vindicator is reporting exclusively in Tuesday’s newspaper that state Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry, the most-senior Democrat in the Ohio House, will plead guilty to a misdemeanor related to campaign-finance irregularities in a bill of information and resign, likely this week, according to three sources close to the investigation.

Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th, is cooperating with prosecutors, striking a deal to plead guilty, step down immediately and agree to not run for elected office for the next seven years, two of the sources said. The crime is unlawful compensation, one source said.

A bill of information is when a defendant waives presentment of criminal charges to a grand jury and agrees to plead guilty.

The charge stems from Gerberry, a 27-year House member, supposedly overpaying vendors to make it look like he spent money and then having much of it returned to him as a refund, the three sources said.

Gerberry did this with several vendors, one source said.

Attempts today by The Vindicator to contact Gerberry for comment were unsuccessful.