Bribery, fraud, and abuse of power have come home to roost in Dayton, Ohio, as federal and state prosecutors unsealed indictments against a former city commissioner and a sitting city official at the center of a sprawling corruption probe. The charges, revealed Tuesday, mark the latest hit in a years-long crackdown on municipal graft in the Rust Belt city.
The indictment names former Dayton City Commissioner Jeffery J. Sutton, 58, of Dayton, and a current city official whose identity remains sealed pending arraignment. Both are accused of accepting cash, gifts, and favors from local businessmen in exchange for steering city contracts and influencing zoning decisions. Investigators say the scheme spanned over five years and involved hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent contracts.
Alongside the officials, two local businessmen—Gregory L. Allen, 54, and Marcus R. Boyd, 61, both of Dayton—are charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and making unlawful payments. Prosecutors allege Allen and Boyd used shell companies to funnel money through fake invoices and inflated bids, laundering illicit payments through legitimate-looking transactions.
The press conference unfolded at the Walter H. Rice Federal Building at 1 p.m. on April 30, 2019, led by U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joe Deters, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and investigators from the Auditor of State Office. Flanked by federal agents and state auditors, Glassman called the case a ‘betrayal of public trust’ and vowed to root out systemic rot.
According to court documents, bribes ranged from $5,000 cash drops to luxury hotel stays and concert tickets. One contractor admitted to paying $22,000 in exchange for a $1.2 million city paving contract. Investigators used wiretaps, forensic accounting, and testimony from cooperating witnesses to build the case over 18 months.
Room access opened at 12:45 p.m. for media, though no TV lighting or multbox was provided. All attendees were required to present ID at security. With charges now public, arraignments are expected within the week. If convicted, defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison on the most serious counts.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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