Cincinnati Councilman Admits to Taking Dirty Money

Former Cincinnati City Councilman Jeffrey Pastor, 39, admitted in federal court today to shaking down developers for cold, hard cash. The plea isn’t just an admission of guilt; it’s a glaring indictment of the rot that’s taken hold within Cincinnati’s city government. Pastor confessed to honest services wire fraud, meaning he actively betrayed the public trust by using his office for personal enrichment.

The scheme, according to court documents, ran from June 2018 to January 2019. Pastor didn’t just accept a little pocket change. He actively solicited bribes – and got them – in exchange for pushing through favorable decisions on two separate development projects. The feds say Pastor’s greed deprived Cincinnati citizens of their right to honest representation, a betrayal that goes beyond simple financial loss.

The details are particularly damning. In September 2018, Pastor and an accomplice jetted off to Miami on a private plane, courtesy of investors angling for a piece of Cincinnati real estate. He didn’t disclose the trip, didn’t pay for it, and used the opportunity to negotiate a $15,000 bribe – disguised as a “retainer” – for his influence. A week later, he collected the cash. He didn’t stop there, continuing to pressure investors for even more.

Pastor isn’t the only one in the crosshairs. His associate, Tyran Marshall, was also indicted in November 2020 on charges including conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery, attempted extortion, and money laundering. Marshall’s case is still pending, and the feds are digging deeper into his involvement. Expect more shoes to drop.

If federal prosecutors accept Pastor’s plea, he’s facing up to 24 months in prison. While a sentence won’t undo the damage, it sends a message – however belated – that public officials will be held accountable for their corruption. The court will consider the scope of the scheme, the harm inflicted on the city, and Pastor’s level of cooperation during sentencing. Don’t expect a slap on the wrist.

This isn’t an isolated incident. The case echoes similar corruption scandals that have plagued Ohio politics in recent years, including the convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges. The pattern is clear: unchecked power and a willingness to sell influence are poisoning the state’s political landscape. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and expose the rot wherever it festers.