NewsNet5
written by Ron Regan
Thursday June 7, 2012
CLEVELAND, OHIO - A key figure in the Cuyahoga County corruption probe faces new charges after federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in the ongoing probe.
Cleveland attorney Anthony O. Calabrese III is now accused of tampering with a witness, charges in addition to original corruption charges filed on Sept. 22, 2011.
Calabrese pleaded not guilty to the original charges that included 18 counts of racketeering and other charges.
In the original indictment, Calabrese was accused by prosecutors of using his position as an attorney representing the Alternatives Agency, a Cleveland half-way house, to assist with efforts to bribe former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and Auditor Frank Russo.
Alternatives Agency was awarded a $250,000 contract with the county.
In a superseding indictment filed by federal prosecutors Thursday, Calabrese is charged with obstruction of justice charges related to the county purchase of the Ameritrust complex that cost taxpayers $45 million.
Calabrese was an attorney representing the seller of the Ameritrus complex.
Sources said one week after the FBI began investigating, Calabrese reached out to former county employee J. Kevin Kelley--not knowing the Kelley was already cooperating with the FBI.
Kelley has since pleaded guilty to other corruption charges involving Dimora and Russo.
In addition, sources said Calabrese agreed to meet Kelley inside the courtroom of former Cuyahoga County Judge Bridget McCafferty to discuss his involvement. Prosecutors said Calabrese was trying to convinced Kelley to help him mislead federal investigators.
McCafferty was also convicted on other corruption charges.
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