Related Federal Cases
- Ohio GOP Boss Gets 5 Years in $61M Bribery Scheme · Ohio
- Ohio Speaker Gets 20 Years for $60M Bribery Scheme · Washington
- Karen L. Finley Sentenced in Bribery Scheme · Ohio
- John and Danielle Kays, Matthew Barrow Indicted in $21M APG Bribery Scheme · Maryland
- Dayton Officials Indicted in Fraud & Bribery Scheme · Ohio
Suarez & Giorgio Indicted: $200K Campaign Finance Scheme
NORTH CANTON, OH – A pair of executives are facing federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme to illegally funnel nearly $200,000 into the 2012 election cycle. Benjamin Suarez, 72, of Canton, and Michael Giorgio, 61, of Cuyahoga Falls, were named in an eight-count indictment unsealed today, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steven M. Dettelbach, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.
The indictment details a conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws, with Suarez and Giorgio accused of recruiting individuals connected to their company, identified as Company A, to act as “conduit contributors.” These individuals allegedly made contributions in their own names and those of their spouses, with the promise of full reimbursement from Company A. The scheme involved raising $100,000 for an Ohio candidate for the United States Senate and $100,000 for an Ohio candidate for the United States House.
“This office, working with the FBI, has always and will continue to ensure that all who participate in our political process follow the rules and obey the law,” Dettelbach stated. The charges against Suarez and Giorgio include one count of conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws, two counts of violation of campaign finance laws, two counts of making false statements, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and one count of obstruction of justice. Suarez also faces an additional charge of witness tampering.
The feds allege Giorgio, acting on Suarez’s orders, informed potential contributors that their donations would be fully covered by Company A. Payments were initially disguised as salary and later as profit sharing, with the amounts “grossed up” to account for taxes, ensuring full reimbursement. The intent, according to the indictment, was to conceal the true source of the contributions and the extent of support from Company A and Suarez.
The indictment lays out 18 contributions made in March 2011 to a 2012 House campaign, and 20 contributions, mostly in May 2011, to a 2012 Senate campaign. But the alleged wrongdoing didn’t stop there. Suarez and Giorgio are further accused of conspiring to obstruct justice from March 2011 through this month by failing to comply with federal grand jury subpoenas, withholding documents and evidence.
To further muddy the waters, the pair allegedly directed Company A’s controller to fabricate documents labeled “Advance on Profit Sharing” for nearly all employees and contractors who had received reimbursement for campaign donations. These false documents were designed to create the illusion that the reimbursements were legitimate advances, intended to be repaid – a clear attempt to cover their tracks, according to the indictment. “Benjamin Suarez and Michael Giorgio engaged in behavior that blatantly ignored and directly circumvented clearly established campaign financing laws,” said Anthony. “The FBI is committed to fully investigate any such intentional violations of these laws, which exist to help ensure fair, honest, and transparent elections.”
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption