Jacqueline K. Middleton, Accepted $23K in Bribes, Cleveland OH, 2023

CLEVELAND, OHIO – A former head of the Council of Economic Opportunities of Greater Cleveland (CEOGC) was handed a 30-month prison sentence for accepting over $23,000 in bribes. Jacqueline K. Middleton, 69, pleaded guilty to honest services fraud and bribery charges, according to Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Middleton’s crime involved soliciting and accepting cash, home renovations, and other valuable items from contractors in exchange for favorable treatment and contract awards within the CEOGC. She served as the president and CEO of the organization, which aimed to serve low-income individuals in Cuyahoga County and Greater Cleveland.

The investigation revealed that Middleton accepted $12,017 from Contractor No. 1 and approximately $11,200 from Contractor No. 2. In return, she authorized contracts for these contractors, including parking lot renovations, classroom remodeling, and flooring work at CEOGC sites.

United States Attorney Dettelbach stated that Middleton violated the trust of taxpayers and the public she was supposed to serve. Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony emphasized the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to root out individuals who exploit their trusted positions for personal gain.

Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region, highlighted that the misuse or misappropriation of taxpayer funds would not be tolerated, with the OIG continuing to work alongside law enforcement and prosecutors to hold such individuals accountable.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Collyer, following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General.