Prosecutor Probes ODOT For Corruption
Published: July 30, 2009
Updated: July 31, 2009
CLEVELAND—Prosecutors say as many as 31 people could face charges as part of a corruption probe at the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Ryan Miday, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office in Cleveland, says seven people are scheduled to appear in court Friday to enter pleas. Their identities weren’t released.
Seven ODOT employees resigned or were fired last year following a report by the Ohio inspector general outlining nearly $11 million in questionable or improper payments to contractors.
The report said certain department supervisors and employees accepted lap dances at strip clubs, fishing trips and other favors in exchange for steering contracts.
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Reader Reactions
You’re hilarious actually! “Stimulus”!That in and of itself is very funny.No harm in a laugh :)
Sorry, Laura…just couldn’t resist! Let’s say I told ‘em in the name of “stimulus” (Isn’t that the current buzzword for everything?“ Trying to put a little levity into it. Besides, although I’m not a Clevelandite, I’m sure they’ve got their own very own strips similar to the Broad Street/Sullivant Ave “circuit”.
As for the STD’s…I don’t know how much more prevelant they are in streetwalkers vs. strip-club take-out menu workers, so I can’t comment on that.
But it’s okay…I still Luv Ya :)
Leave it to you Anonymous to steer em’ to a cheaper piece of(unfortunately drug addicted/std carrying)butt!
You gotta laugh!!
Steering contracts (I’m sure worth tens of thousands of dollars) for the price of a lap dance or two??? Just how hard-up ARE these guys?
C’mon down to Columbus, guys…Broad Street or Sullivant Avenue $20.00 WITHOUT the pretext of a lap dance or needing to steer contracts!
I know that all some people will remember is a trooper getting busted for riding his cycle at 147 MPH, but when it comes to state agencies, the Highway Patrol is a rose amongst a bunch of thorns. They are the hardest working agency within state government, often times to the dismay of the motoring public, but at least the taxpayers get their money’s worth out of troopers.
Everytime that I read about the governor wanting state agencies wanting to cut back, the patrol cuts aven more than asked, and they still operate efficiently and effectively.
Why can’t ODOT, and all of these other state agencies do the same????
We might be able to balance a budget if the state would crack down on these cheaters.Set up a hot line to expose criminal activity and waste of taxpayers money.The problem is these people know that they’ve been able to operate with impunity for eons,so they have no fear of their corruption being exposed.
Thats the way Govt. is done.
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