Sandy Klimkowski: Four Years for Cuyahoga County Bribes

CLEVELAND, OH – Santina “Sandy” Klimkowski, 61, of Maple Heights, is headed to federal prison for four years after admitting to a long-running scheme to enrich herself through bribery and fraud while serving the public. The former Cuyahoga County employee and Maple Heights school board member was sentenced today, marking another conviction in the sprawling Cuyahoga County corruption scandal.

Klimkowski previously pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act conspiracy, bribery, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, making false statements, and various tax charges. The court heard details of how she colluded with then-Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo, rigging contracts for commercial appraisal work to favor a company that paid kickbacks – a portion of which flowed directly to Klimkowski. This wasn’t a one-time deal; it was a systematic abuse of her public office for personal gain.

But the scheme didn’t stop there. Klimkowski also exploited her position on the Maple Heights City Schools board, steering construction contracts to favored contractors in exchange for cash and free home repairs. Court documents paint a picture of a brazen disregard for the public trust, with Klimkowski lining her pockets while schools and taxpayers footed the bill. She wasn’t serving the students; she was serving herself.

The sentencing includes an order for Klimkowski to pay $270,302 in restitution. This money will be distributed to those she harmed: $154,000 to Cuyahoga County, $83,414 to Maple Heights City Schools, and $32,888 to the Internal Revenue Service. While restitution offers some measure of relief, it doesn’t undo the damage caused by years of corruption.

“Klimkowski is yet another individual uncovered in a lengthy public corruption investigation that was portraying herself as a public servant through her employment while defrauding the citizens of our community,” stated Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office. “The FBI and its partners will continue to root out public corruption, bringing the individuals involved to justice, as demonstrated with more than 60 convictions in this investigation.”

This case is far from isolated. To date, more than 60 individuals – including two judges, the county auditor, and a former county commissioner – have been convicted in the federal investigation into corruption within Cuyahoga County, Ohio’s most populous county and home to Cleveland. The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigation, continues to expose the rot at the heart of local government. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy L. Kelley and Antoinette T. Bacon.