J. Kevin Kelley to resume testimony against Jimmy Dimora as new state public corruption law advances

AKRON, Ohio - J. Kevin Kelley is expected on Tuesday morning to continue his testimony against former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora in the corruption trial under way in Akron federal court.

Kelley spent hours on Monday testifying for the federal government about bribes, sex trysts, gambling trips and related alleged misconduct involving Dimora, former Auditor Frank Russo, Dimora co-defendant Michael Gabor and others. He admitted he wore a FBI wire "20 times and maybe more" to secretly record conversations that are expected to be played as he continues his testimony.

Kelley, age 42, told jurors he takes 21 pills per day for medical conditions including depression, insomnia, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and that he is bipolar and has an enlarged liver. He testified that he worked 18 years for county government and his salary was once as high as $145,000.

Also on Monday, State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) released a statement supporting the advancement of House Bill 323 in the Ohio Legislature. The bill would add the felonies of extortion and perjury to the list of crimes which could lead to the forfeiture of retirement benefits or termination of disability benefits for individuals convicted while serving in a position of public trust.

"The hard-working taxpayers of this county should not be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring indicted politicians such as Jimmy Dimora and Frank Russo enjoy taxpayer-subsidized golden parachutes into retirement after squandering hundreds of thousands of dollars – limited taxpayer funds which could have gone to support our schools, public safety officers, and communities,” Dovilla said in the statement.

House Bill 323 has been passed from committee and is awaiting scheduling for a vote by the full Ohio House of Representatives, Dovilla said.

Dimora and co-defendant Michael Gabor have maintained their innocence of all federal charges.

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