Prosecutors say Jimmy Dimora tracked county contract from private Las Vegas topless pool

AKRON, Ohio - Federal prosecutors on Friday afternoon showed jurors FBI surveillance video and photos of Jimmy Dimora and private contractors at Las Vegas gambling tables, a private hotel topless pool and a high-priced steakhouse in April, 2008.

FBI agents worked with security officials at The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas to obtain detailed surveillance videos of Dimora, contractor Ferris Kleem and others at hotel gambling tables. Federal agents also took surveillance photos of the multi-day Vegas trip.

Using a hotel surveillance camera video located above one gambling table where Dimora and Kleem played, FBI Special Agent Michael Massie described play-by-play moves he said showed Kleem placing gambling chips onto Dimora's bets to increase the value of the bets.

FBI surveillance photos also showed Dimora, Kleem, county employee J. Kevin Kelley, contractor Steven Pumper, co-defendant Michael Gabor and others at the Bare Pool, a private topless pool at The Mirage. Prosecutors said Kleem picked up the tab for the pool.

One wiretap recording of Dimora’s cell phone quoted him describing the pool and cabana as: “…nude pool area. It’s called Bare…Only topless, not bottom. Young broads, old broads. It’s phenomenal... One’s hotter than the next…This is like heaven over here.”

Prosecutors also played a wiretap recording of Dimora talking on his cell phone from the Bare Pool with his county administrative assistant, Patrick Smock, about bids submitted by private contractors for the county Juvenile Justice Center. Blaze Building, owned by Kleem, was a bidder on the project.

At one point, Dimora passed his cell phone to Kleem who talked directly with Smock about the bids. Blaze Building was never awarded that specific bid, but another company owned by Kleem did receive an award for a bid on different services for the project.

FBI agent Massie testified about a dinner Dimora, Kleem and nine others attended at the Prime Steak House at the Bellagio Hotel. Video evidence showed Dimora, Kleem and others leaving The Mirage to go to the Prime Steak House in limousines allegedly paid for by Kleem.

Prosecutors said Kleem later charged to his hotel room a tab of $2,219.90 for the dinner, which included filet and porterhouse steaks, seafood platters, three bottles of wine and other food and drinks.

Video surveillance was also entered into evidence showing Dimora and Kleem at a gambling table at The Mirage. The video zoomed in on a paper on which Kleem wrote down the phone number and name of a woman the government later identified as Suzzanne Michaels.

Prosecutors claim Michaels later provided a massage and sex to Dimora in his hotel room.

In a wiretapped phone call from Dimora to Kleem prior to the alleged encounter, Dimora asked Kleem, “She gives a massage. Is that how we’re going to start her out?”

During a recording of a call following the alleged encounter between Dimora and Michaels, Kleem asked Dimora, “Was that the best or what?”

Dimora responded, “A little chatty, but good…Thank you, though. It was excellent.  Thank you. Thank you.”

He then told Kleem he was, “Going to get a bite at a Chinese restaurant and go play a little bit,” referring to the gambling tables.

Prosecutors played another wiretap recording of a call between Dimora and Kleem that FBI agent Massie said occurred while both were at the Las Vegas airport awaiting flights back to Cleveland at the end of the trip.

In the call Dimora described the trip to Kleem: “Honest to God, it was a (expletive) blast. We appreciate your hospitality and your generosity.”

In another wiretap conversation with convicted former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo, who also went on the trip but was said to have felt ill and stayed in his room at times, Dimora was upset about a Plain Dealer reporter inquiring about the trip. He complained multiple times that the media did not do stories on trips by City of Cleveland and other public officials.

“Tell them I sat in First Class because my fat ass won’t fit in second class or whatever they call it,” Dimora said.

In another wiretap call, Dimora joked with private contractor Michael Forlani about the trip.

“I’m leaving Vegas as a man-whore. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” Dimora told Forlani.

On Thursday, Gabor defense attorney Leif Christman told the jury in his opening statement that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except when the FBI is involved. Dimora and Gabor have maintained their innocence.

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