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The FBI on Tuesday arrested a local attorney and four members of
the city council in Toledo, Ohio, for their alleged
participation in a bribery and extortion scheme.

Tyrone Riley, Yvonne Harper, Garrick “Gary” Johnson, Larry Sykes
and Keith Mitchell were charged with bribery and extortion in a
federal criminal complaint after a two-year investigation,
according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“As alleged in the Complaint, four Toledo City Council members
and a local attorney have been engaged in a pay-to-play scheme
involving bribes for Council votes,” U.S. Attorney Justin
Herdman said in a statement to Fox News Wednesday. “Maintaining
the public’s trust in its elected officials is one of the
Department of Justice’s core responsibilities."

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The FBI started its investigation into the Toledo City Council
members in 2018 for allegedly soliciting or accepting money or
other things of value from local businesses in exchange for
their votes.

Harper reportedly solicited nearly $16,000, the largest sum out
of the council members. She also faces charges of unlawful
interstate communications with the intent to extort.

The bribes were allegedly paid through Mitchell, the attorney
who reportedly oversaw the distribution of funds.

One event investigated by the FBI was the payment submitted to
four members of the city council by a local business owner
seeking a Special Use Permit for an Internet cafe. The request
passed the city council with unanimous consent, the DOJ said.

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“The residents of Toledo should know, as should every other
resident of the Northern District of Ohio, that where there are
allegations of public corruption and kickbacks, we and our
federal partners will be there every time,” Herdman said.

In a press conference, Herdman said the charges for bribery
carry a 10-year maximum charge and that extortion carries
another 20-year maximum sentence. Both charges also carry a
$250,000 fine.


The FBI said it utilized confidential informants, recorded phone
calls and text messages, along with analysis of financial,
business and government records during its investigation.

The council members were all released on a $50,000 bond.

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City Council President Matt Cherry and Toledo Mayor Wade
Kapszukiewicz have called for the council member's resignations.

According to a DOJ spokesperson, a confidential source
approached the FBI with information relating to the bribery
scheme members of the City Council were allegedly participating
in. The source was a former business owner with knowledge of the
bribery and extortion, the spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday.

"Elected officials are elected by the people, to serve the
people, not to serve their own financial self-interest,” said
FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI will
continue efforts to root out public corruption so citizens can
have faith and trust in their public officials.”

https://www.foxnews.com/us/one-third-toledo-city-council- arrested-bribery-extortion-charges
 

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