Business & Tech

Plain Dealer: Twinsburg Business Owner Admits to Bribing Dimora and Russo

Twinsburg businessman Charles Randazzo pleads guilty to charges related to giving gifts to the former county commissioner and auditor in exchange for business for his Twinsburg-based company

Twinsburg businessman Charles Randazzo, 62, of Solon, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to bribing former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and Auditor Frank Russo, according to the Plain Dealer.

Randazzo, who  with the crimes, could face 8-14 months in prison, but could serve it under house arrest, the newspaper reports.

Randazzo admitted to bribing Dimora and Russo in exchange for business for his Twinsburg-based company, Financial Network of America.

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From the article:

[Randazzo] gave both public officials more than $1,000 each in 2004 to buy fake palm trees for their backyards. Dimora chose to use his money to purchase a Tiki hut the following spring, according to Randazzo's plea agreement.

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Randazzo wanted their help in getting his company on the list of businesses that provide financial services to public employees. He is the majority owner of the Twinsburg-based money management firm, which helps county employees invest their deferred compensation. Deferred compensation is similar to a 401(k) retirement plan in that money is taken out of an employee's pay before taxes and invested.

Dimora voted in 2004 to add Financial Network of America to the list, according to the charges. The company ran into legal problems the following year and its business with the county was suspended, only to be reinstated a year later.

Dimora also introduced Randazzo to other public officials who might be able to provide contracts to Randazzo's company, prosecutors said. The charges against Randazzo don't say specifically who Randazzo met with.

Russo helped Randazzo get started with the county, according to prosecutors. Russo introduced Randazzo to a county employee with connections to the payroll department. That employee is not named in the charges.


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