By: Ken Trump, newsnet5.comAKRON, Ohio - Federal agents on Monday said former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora was given more than $69,000 in home improvements by contractor D-A-S Construction between 2002 and 2007, and money to buy a tiki bar for his patio from a deferred compensation contractor.
“Public service is my motto,” Dimora said in a tongue-in-cheek manner in a wiretap conversation with contractor Steven Pumper, the head of D-A-S. Dimora told Pumper he was there to “help my friends make more money than they already have” made.
FBI Special Agent Christine Oliver explained to jurors a chart she created breaking down the home improvements, costs and years including:
-Irrigation system, more than $1,700 in 2002.
-Covered patio, more than $18,800 in 2004.
-Bathroom addition, more than $13,000 in 2005.
-Outdoor patio kitchen, more than $27,000, in 2007.
Oliver said the costs reflected supplies and labor, but not overhead and profit normally charged for such projects.
D-A-S provided more than $69,500 in total services, Oliver said, only billing Dimora slightly more than $40,300 in 2008 after Dimora asked for an invoice around the time the FBI investigation became evident to Dimora. Even after the invoice, Oliver said more than $29,200 remained not billed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon guided Oliver through a description of a computerized interactive timeline listing more than a half dozen contractors and subcontractors that had done work at Dimora’s home. A click on any given contractor linked to a more detailed description, graphics and photos of the home improvements.
Prosecutor Bacon introduced to jurors a new scheme involving Dimora and Charles Randazzo, owner of Financial Network of America, a Twinsburg company, that provided deferred compensation plans to government employees. Jurors heard wiretap conversations in which Dimora introduced by phone Randazzo and Julius Ciaccia, head of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.
Before turning his cell phone over to Randazzo, Dimora told Ciaccia that Randazzo’s deferred compensation program was offered in the county offices.
“Marty Sweeney’s helping him get that set up,” for city of Cleveland workers, Dimora also said.
Randazzo apparently became aggressive in his efforts to get more cities to offer his program to their employees. After some time, it appeared as though Randazzo became an irritant to Dimora, who said Randazzo needed to realize he could not get "100 percent" of all government agencies he approached.
“Charlie’s gotta understand that everybody’s gotta eat,” Dimora said in a wiretap conversation with Tom Day, Bedford Clerk of Courts, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing in the federal case.
Dimora still worked to connect Randazzo and Ciaccia according to wiretap conversations. And Dimora suggested in a wiretap conversation with Michael Gabor that Gabor seek out Randazzo as a “sponsor” for one of their dinners.
Cuyahoga County commissioners also entered into an agreement with Financial Network of America to provide deferred compensation to county employees, which federal prosecutors showed jurors on Monday afternoon.
FBI agent Oliver then showed jurors photos, invoices and cashier checks for a palm tree at the home of then-auditor Frank Russo and a tiki bar on the patio of Dimora, which prosecutors said was purchased by Randazzo. Randazzo has pleaded guilty to giving Dimora and Russo each $1,000 to buy the tree and tiki bar.
During cross-examination by Dimora defense attorney Andrea Whitaker, Oliver admitted that Randazzo did not get several contracts with cities prosecutors say Dimora tried to help Randazzo obtain work.
Late Monday afternoon, Charles Randazzo took the witness stand. Randazzo told jurors when he started working with local government he ran into “a lot of problems.”
“Most of them seem to have the attitude ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’,” Randazzo testified about difficulties in working with local government financial administrators.
“You really need a lot of help opening a door,” Randazzo said.
Randazzo testified he gave both Russo and Dimora each a cashiers check for $1,079.14 to purchase a fake palm tree after they saw Randazzo’s fake palm tree during a party at his Kelley’s Island home.
Prosecutors said Russo bought a palm tree while Dimora bought a tiki bar with the check.
Randazzo testified he also gave Russo and Dimora wine and food including crab legs, racks of lamb, steaks and high-priced bottles of wine.
"They were centers of influence in Cuyahoga County," Randazzo told jurors in describing Dimora and Russo.
“They help me, I help them...Opening doors where I might have a chance of doing business. Because it’s a difficult arena that government sector," Randazzo said.
Randazzo said his company lost 120 customers and will lose Cuyahoga County as a customer once the county finds a replacement for his company. He also testified he has high blood pressure and heart issues.
Randazzo was charged and pleaded guilty in the federal conspiracy.
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