Jimmy Dimora at center of one of biggest local corruption cases in U.S. history

The Plain Dealer ^ | September 15, 2010 | Plain Dealer Staff

[CutePuppy]

It is a shocking and emblematic photograph that could be of New York City's Boss Tweed, 140 years later: Jimmy Dimora, the most powerful man in Cuyahoga County politics, led away in manacles to FBI headquarters, to federal court, and into infamy.

But the picture painted by the 177 pages in indictments made public Wednesday against eight suspects -- including Cuyahoga County commissioner Dimora and two county judges -- is even more shocking, alleging what could be one of the biggest local political-machine corruption cases in recent U.S. history.

It also, for the first time, implicates a second commissioner, Peter Lawson Jones, in the broad pay-for-play scandal that has infected local government and garnered almost three dozen guilty pleas.

Jones is not charged, or named, but as "Public Official 9" he has now entered the alpha-numeric lexicon of those who are accused of trading jobs for bribes and campaign donations.

The focus of the grand jury indictments paints Dimora, the gruff, often crude commissioner, as a high-on-the-hog crook indulging himself in goodies at public expense as the boss of a complex corruption scheme in a county that is home to one of the poorest big cities in America.

According to the FBI investigation, Dimora, until last year the chairman of the local Democratic party, helped himself to:

• Sex on demand with top-dollar call girls, and with a woman who sought his help to get a job.

• Pricey lunches at fancy restaurants such as Delmonico's Steakhouse.

• A high-flying gambling junket to Las Vegas and more nights of partying at a Stonebridge condominium overlooking Cleveland's Flats.

• A four-figure discount on a Rolex watch.

• Free or deeply-discounted improvements to his $438,000 home, which the indictments seek to seize in forfeiture actions against Dimora and other defendants.

.....

[CutePuppy]

Long time coming... should be front and center everywhere as prime example of "culture of corruption" of Democratic political machines. From DC, NYC, Albany, Trenton, Chicago to tiny cities like Bell, CA - Dems are using City Halls and State Capitols to enrich and empower themselves and their friends.

Plain Dealer coverage of Dimora's indictment:

Dimora's indictment caps the crumbling of his classic Democratic political machine
Plain Dealer editorial: Assessing the damage from Dimora, et al
County officials react after corruption-probe arrests
Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones traded votes for campaign contributions, prosecutors say
Cuyahoga County executive front-runner Ed FitzGerald helped Jimmy Dimora close a deal, federal prosecutors say
Commissioner Jimmy Dimora driven by greed, charges show
Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora traded sex for bribes and favors, a federal indictment says
Two Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judges among those indicted in county corruption probe
Cuyahoga County auditor's office, many employees ensnared in corruption investigation
Feds use Jimmy Dimora's own words against him; recorded conversations part of case
Jimmy Dimora pleads not guilty, proclaims his innocence, rails against investigation
Dimora and associates tried to cover their misdeeds, prosecutors say
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Steven Terry, others indicted Wednesday plead not guilty
Dimora arrest doesn't signal end to Cuyahoga corruption probe
Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora taunted FBI
Dimora on leave, but still will be paid as a commissioner Dimora's rise and fall: a timeline
Arrests in Cuyahoga County corruption probe
Who's accused of doing what with whom: A comprehesive guide
The Cuyahoga County corruption case: a who's who
County officials react after corruption-probe arrests
Jimmy Dimora's arrest: Comments of the day
Michael Gabor indictment
Samir Mohammad indictment
Steven Terry indictment
Jimmy Dimora, et al. indictment
Tim Hagan reacts to the arrest
Previous Plain Dealer coverage of the corruption probe
Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo resigns

Day 1: Federal raids target Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo
Crisis in county government: One year later
Crisis in Cuyahoga County government: Two years after the raid

[dalebert]

wonder if he is wrapped up in the green industry the way the mob boss they just busted in Italy is?

[piytar]

Yeah, shocking. /SARC

Cuyahoga aka Cleveland is dirty. Old school Chicago connected.

Then there’s Youngstown - owned by old school NY “people.”

This isn’t news to anyone with the least awareness in Ohio. Then (clueless) people wonder why Ohio is becoming such a mess.

The real shocker is that anything is happening about it. After all, Obama is from Chicago. Just another sign of The Won’s incompetence IMHO. (See also the Blago mess.)

PS Gee, wonder who Columbus Mayor Coleman - who has been rejected when he tried to go national - is connected to? Free Kupie Doll to this first person who gets that one right.

PPS This isn’t insider info - it’s common knowledge and standard bar talk in Columbus.

[CutePuppy]

What's the difference between a Democratic party "boss" and Italian mob boss? Isn't Democratic Party USA in the "minorities" and "less fortunate" people "protection" racket, just as mafia, only supposedly legal?

While respectful of several routine questions from Magistrate Judge Nancy Vecchiarelli before pleading not guilty to all charges, at one point Dimora looked at the courtroom benches filled with spectators, chuckled, and said, "Who are these people?"

[MARTIAL MONK]

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora traded sex for bribes and favors, a federal indictment says

Now that don't sound right at all.

[dalebert]

until last year chairman of the local Democrat party....

[CutePuppy]

Speaking of Blago, he looks like a piker compared to this. Blago is an opportunist, this is more like "organized" crime syndicate.

And, Wednesday's indictments strongly implied, there might be more shocking revelations to come.

The tentacles of corruption could reach to Martin Sweeney, president of Cleveland City Council, and taint the campaign of Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald, the Democratic candidate for county executive of the Cuyahoga County government system that will be instituted after the November elections. .....

Unlike the recent influence-peddling case against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Cuyahoga County case bears more resemblance to that of the notorious William Magear "Boss" Tweed, convicted in 1873 in New York's Tammany Hall corruption case, Entin said.

The Cuyahoga case also resembles two judicial-corruption cases in 20th-century Chicago politics, Entin said. .....

[Right Wing Assault]

Another amazing thing is that county auditor Frank Russo is working a plea bargain for over 21 years in prison. He would be 82 when he gets out. Some bargain. And, his son has to plead guilty, as well. What a bunch of ignorant slimeballs.

Story here: http://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/index.ssf/2010/09/former_auditor_frank_russo_adm.html

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the..............................HA ha!!!

[EBH]

Now, now if the people of the county would stop electing and re-electing this dirt...

The window of opportunity is opening for November here, will the local republican party or tea party take advantage ????

I haven’t seen any indication of it.

[North Coast Conservative]

You are right.

Not from the people who give/gave you/us Mary Rose Oakar, Dennis "The Menace" Kuchinich, not to mention Sherrod Brown.

[CutePuppy]

Problem with Ohio Republicans is that they have (had?) their own “ethical” problems.

[Pontiac]

Do Republicans still inhabit Cuyahoga County?

I would have thought that any intelligent Republican would have abandoned ship long ago.

[Pontiac]

A four-figure discount on a Rolex watch.

Are they sure that wasn’t a Five Fingered discount?

[CutePuppy]

With a three-finger salute, at attention.

[hinckley buzzard]

This arrest is the culmination of a two year long thorough investigation by the FBI. They have rolled dozens of lower level vermin and the County Auditor's office, a total rats' nest, has been cleaned out. When the FBI first exercised a search warrant on these guys' homes they carried away literally truckloads of documents and other material. They have taken their time but the string of guilty pleas leading up to this point indicates they built an ironclad case.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Ohio Ping!

To be added to the Ohio Ping List, please freepmail (works best),
both LasVegasDave and TonyRo76.

[CutePuppy]

Another amazing thing is that county auditor Frank Russo is working a plea bargain for over 21 years in prison.

Makes sense for him, in a way:

Frank Russo -- once the gregarious front man of the local Democratic Party -- solemnly agreed Thursday to what amounts to a life sentence in prison in exchange for concessions that protect his family from further prosecution and allow him to stay free long enough to witness the birth of three grandchildren.

Doubtful he would get much better outcome fighting it. And for prosecution it's a way to score a win, close his case and use him / his testimony as a proof in other cases.

[Right Wing Assault]

use him / his testimony as a proof in other cases

Definitely taking one for his family. But part of the deal is that he doesn't have to testify. If he did, Dimoras's boys would probably kill him in prison. I am sure he'll talk privately to the feds, though, and give them valuable info.

The difference between life and 21 years for a 60-year-old man are small. The feds rarely let someone out early. His only hope is a pardon from some dem president.

At least the "flamboyant' Russo will enjoy the gay sex in prison.

[cleveland gop]

I’m still here! Since I’ve probably paid more than twice the taxes as most, I’ve been stupid enough to leave, I guess!!!
As for things ever changing, yea I’m sure the voters of Cuyahoga county are going to elect Matt Dolan and a Republican majority to lead the new county government........ It doesn’t matter that Fitzgerald is named in the corruption case, I can’t see how he loses!!!

Unless in the next 6 weeks the only people allowed to vote are taxpayers, then we have a shot. Keep the welfare crowd away from the polls and busy doing something different, like WORKING, then we might see change.

The trouble isn’t over yet. Others are going to fall, and it may go all the way to the governors mansion......