Federal prosecutors request revoking of bonds, house arrest for Dimora and Gabor

AKRON, Ohio - Following the dismissal of the jurors appointed early Friday afternoon, federal prosecutors strongly urged U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi to revoke the bonds of corruption trial defendants Jimmy Dimora and Michael Gabor in what evolved into the most heated exchanges by attorneys this week.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Antionette Bacon, alleged that defense attorneys released highly sensitive federal government information in a 91-page appeal filed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals late last Tuesday. The contents of the document are not publicly known.

Bacon requested that Judge Lioi revoke the bonds of Dimora and Gabor. Attorneys then moved to a bench conference with the judge during which time Lioi appeared to one courtroom observer to be admonishing defense counsel.

After the bench conference, Bacon modified the government's request for bond revocation to instead include house arrest, electronic monitoring and limiting the use of landline phones by Dimora and Gabor.

Judge Lioi proceeded to advise all parties that the court takes very seriously protective orders prohibiting the release of sensitive information and she will not tolerate violations.

"I will not hesitate to sanction anyone who violates an order. It is a serious matter and I will not tolerate it," Lioi said. The judge then delayed modification of the defendants' bond conditions but will reconsider the prosecution's request next Wednesday.

"I'm telling you right now, nobody had better misstep.  We have worked too hard, too long to come to this point. We have 18 citizens who have committed their time to come to this courthouse, to sit in that jury box and to listen to the evidence so this case can be resolved," Lioi strongly advised attorneys.

Lioi continued to admonish all attorneys: "I don't want any missteps coming from anyone in this room, directly or indirectly.  Anyone have any problems understanding this directive?," she firmly stated.

Defendants and their counsel departed the courthouse around 3:30 p.m. and are expected back for an 8:00 a.m. Monday hearing on multiple motions. Jurors are not expected to be present for opening arguments until Wednesday at the earliest.

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