A Cleveland attorney accused of facilitating various bribery schemes involving former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and former County Auditor Frank Russo has been sentenced to nine years in prison in the FBI's ongoing probe of corruption in county government. Brian Bull of member station WCPN in Cleveland reports
40-year-old Anthony Calabrese the 3rd has been sentenced to nine years in prison. He’s also been ordered to pay more than 200-thousand dollars.
One FBI official says Calabrese misused his status as an attorney to facilitate bribes and foster corruption.
Earlier this year, Calabrese pleaded guilty to 18 counts of racketeering, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and bribery concerning federally-funded programs.
The racketeering charges stem from a number of deals struck between Calabrese and public officials between 2001 and 2009.
The schemes involved a halfway house, the Parma school district, and a trip to Las Vegas for Dimora and Russo.
The investigation against Calabrese was carried out by the FBI’s Cleveland office, and the IRS.
Calabrese is the son of a judge, and was one of the most prominent targets in an ongoing corruption probe into Cuyahoga County.