DAYTON, OH – Former director of Dayton’s Minority Business Assistance Center, RoShawn Winburn, was sentenced to six months in prison for accepting bribes in exchange for confidential city contract information, according to court documents released this week. The case, investigated by federal authorities, reveals a scheme where Winburn allegedly provided an inside track to a local business owner seeking to secure contracts with the City of Dayton.
Between July 2015 and July 2016, Winburn is accused of repeatedly meeting with an unnamed individual at a downtown Dayton bar. These meetings weren’t for casual conversation; rather, they were clandestine exchanges of cash for privileged access to non-public documents detailing upcoming minority-owned, woman-owned, and small disadvantaged business contracts. Investigators allege that Winburn received over $6,500 in illicit payments for his services.
The information Winburn leaked was not readily available to the public, giving the individual a significant advantage in the competitive bidding process. This practice effectively undermined the fairness and transparency of the city’s contracting system, potentially leading to less qualified businesses being awarded projects. Sources close to the investigation suggest the scheme was discovered during a routine audit of city contract awards, which flagged irregularities that prompted a deeper look.
Winburn pleaded guilty in February 2020 to violating 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B), a federal statute prohibiting the acceptance of anything of value in connection with a local government contract. This law is designed to combat corruption and ensure the integrity of public procurement processes. The prosecution argued that Winburn’s actions constituted a serious breach of public trust, given his position as a public official responsible for promoting fair competition.
On July 29, 2020, Winburn appeared via videoconference before a federal judge and received his sentence: six months of incarceration followed by two years of supervised release. While the defense argued for leniency, citing Winburn’s previously clean record, the judge emphasized the severity of the crime and the need to deter similar misconduct. The unnamed business owner who allegedly paid Winburn has not been publicly identified, and further investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the scheme and any potential co-conspirators.
Key Facts
- Defendant: RoShawn Winburn
- Crime: Bribery/Accepting illicit payments for confidential information
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
- Timeframe: July 2015 – July 2016
- Amount of Bribes: Over $6,500
- Statute Violated: 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1)(B)
- Penalty: 6 months imprisonment, 2 years supervised release
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
Related Federal Cases
- Dr. John Doe Sentenced to 2+ Years for Bribery, O.C. CA, 2024 · New York
- Felicity Huffman, College Admissions Bribery, CA 2020 · North Carolina
- Ex-Chairman John Smith, Ran $250M Securities Fraud Scheme, New York… · New York
- Robert Gordon, Healthcare Fraud, FL, 2023 · Florida
- Craig Sherman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, West Palm Beach FL, 2023 · Florida
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime