Congressman’s Ex-Aide Charged With Stealing $215,000 From School
A former director of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nursing Anesthesiology School has been charged with embezzling $215,760.07 from the school, authorities said.
Paul Blakeley, 58, of Concord Township, Ohio, was charged with a one-count information in U.S. District Court, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
Betraying the trust of his former employer, Blakeley allegedly issued around 110 unauthorized checks to his spouse, merchants, and credit card companies between January 2007 and April 2013.
Worse still, he forged the endorsement of the payee on approximately 50 of the checks before depositing them into his personal bank account, the authorities alleged.
As a result of the scheme, the school suffered a total loss of $215,760.07.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Kern and Miranda Dugi, following an investigation by the Cleveland Clinic Protective Operations and the U.S. Secret Service.
Blakeley’s sentence will be determined by the court after considering the federal sentencing guidelines, which depend on a number of factors unique to each case, including his prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offense, and the unique characteristics of the violation.
If convicted, the maximum prison time and fine will not be specified at this time. However, in most cases, the sentence will be less than the maximum. The case is ongoing, and further information will be released when available.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nursing Anesthesiology School is a prestigious institution, and the alleged embezzlement of funds is a serious offense.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio is committed to holding individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring justice is served.
Defendant: Paul Blakeley, Age 58, Concord Township, Ohio
Criminal Charge: Embezzlement of $215,760.07 from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nursing Anesthesiology School
City and State: Cleveland, Ohio
Crime Date: Approximately January 2007 to April 2013
Sentence: Ongoing case, awaiting trial
Dollar Amount: $215,760.07
Related Federal Cases
- Willard C. Lee, Annuity Account Embezzlement, Ohio 2011 · Pennsylvania
- Michael Ruksenas, Embezzlement, Ohio 2013 · Florida
- John Dietz, Embezzlement, Ohio 2009 · Ohio
- Thomas A. Steiger, Embezzlement, Ohio 2012 · Alabama
- Leon Pinckney, VA Fund Embezzlement, Ohio 2024 · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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