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FBI Investigating Sale Of Mayor Coleman's Former Home

The FBI is investigating the sale of Democratic Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's former home in Berwick. The FBI has subpoenaed Coleman and his former wife Frankie for documents related to the sale in 2010. Two law enforcement sources tell WCBE agents have also interviewed a municipal employee who told them Coleman directed city staffers to assist the buyer set up a business. Property records show Coleman sold the house for 520 thousand dollars to a Chinese national who wanted to do business in the city. The house was appraised by the Franklin County Auditor's office at 404 thousand dollars. Coleman says he has cooperated with the investigation of the buyer but he is not under investigation himself. Public records show the buyer is Jianhua Li. She works for a Chinese medical products company and wanted to use Rickenbacker Airport as a tax-free distribution hub. The feds have also subpoenaed Coleman along with City Council President and Democratic Mayoral candidate Andy Ginther for records related to the case of Karen Finley, the former Redflex CEO who pleaded guilty last Friday to charges of bribing city officials in Columbus and Cincinnati in exchange for securing or maintaining city contracts.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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