BCI agents question Mahoning County auditor's office workers

YOUNGSTOWN — Michael V. Sciortino might no longer be Mahoning County’s auditor, but he still is having an impact on county government.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents today interviewed auditor’s office employees for the first time as part of the state’s probe into the suspended auditor’s involvement in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal-conspiracy case.

Meanwhile, county commissioners weighed in on raises and bonuses discovered this week and repeated that Sciortino could legally give them out if his budget would allow for that action. They said, however, he did not indicate that was part of his plan during last year’s budget hearings.

The staff interviews were confirmed by Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, which oversees BCI.

The agents, one of them based in downtown Youngstown, interviewed employees and met with the new auditor, Ralph T. Meacham, and Paul J. Gains, county prosecutor.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com