Former Auditor Frank Russo pleads guilty, will spend more than 21 years in prison

[AnOhioan]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Frank Russo, pleaded guilty to 21 corruption-related crimes Thursday afternoon, including bribery, obstruction of justice and tax fraud.

The plea agreement, which U.S. District Judge Kate O'Malley accepted, calls for the former Cuyahoga County Auditor to spend 21 years and 10 months in prison and pay an undetermined amount of restitution.

It also stipulates that Russo will not have to testify against any other targets in the ongoing county corruption probe, and does the same for his son, Vince, who is expected to plead guilty on Friday to one count of bribery.

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/index.ssf/2010/09/former_auditor_frank_russo_adm.html

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This investigation also netted County Commissioner and former head of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party,
Jimmy Dimora...who was arrested yesterday and faces 26 counts. He plead not guilty as his arraignment.

[The Northerner]

1. 26 counts? Yikes.

[Adsos Letter]

2. "Russo will not have to testify against any other targets in the ongoing county corruption probe"

"...Russo will not have to testify against any other targets in the ongoing county corruption probe, and does the same for his son, Vince..."

Well now, I wonder who that stipulation is intended to protect.

[eggplant]

4. himself and his family, I would assume. n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. A very poignant statement regarding the integrity of our election process.

It's truly FUBAR.