A brazen case of public corruption in Ohio has come to an end with the sentencing of contractor Ferris Kleem, 54, of Berea.
Kleem was sentenced to three years in prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to pay $24,000 in restitution to Cuyahoga County after pleading guilty to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The scheme, which spanned from 2006 to July 28, 2008, involved Kleem providing things of value to Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, County Auditor Frank Russo, and county employee J. Kevin Kelley in exchange for their assistance in obtaining county grants and contracts.
One such instance involved Kleem asking Dimora and Russo to assist him in obtaining a county grant to build a pedestrian bridge at Coe Lake in Berea. The county commissioners eventually voted to award a $150,000 grant to the city of Berea for the project.
In another instance, Kleem helped arrange a trip to Las Vegas for Dimora, Russo, Kelley, and others, where he gave Dimora and Russo $6,000 in cash each to cover the cost of airfare and gambling. Kleem also gave Dimora approximately $3,500 in gaming chips and hired a prostitute at his request.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Antoinette T. Bacon, Ann C. Rowland, and Nancy L. Kelley following an investigation by the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigation.
The sentencing of Kleem marks another blow to Ohio’s corrupt government officials, who have been embroiled in several high-profile scandals in recent years.
Related Federal Cases
- Anthony O. Calabrese III, Bribery, Ohio 2009 · Washington
- Santina Sandy Klimkowski, Bribery and Mail Fraud, Ohio 2018 · Ohio
- Steven W. Pumper, Bribery of Programs Receiving Federal Funds, Ohio 2023 · Washington
- James Todt, Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, Ohio 2023 · Washington
- Edward R Hills, Bribery and Kickback Scheme, Ohio 2008 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption