Prosecutor's Office
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Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O'Brien Press Room
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| Trial Date | Defendant | News | ||
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| Mar 13, 2012 | W. Carlton Weddington |
PRESS RELEASE
March 13, 2012
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced a multiple count felony indictment of W. Carlton Weddington, a member of the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio House of Representatives, 27th Ohio House District, as a result of a lengthy FBI investigation at the Ohio Statehouse.
O’Brien and Hanko were joined for this announcement by Eric J. Croyle, FBI Supervisory Special Agent in Columbus and agents from the FBI’s Columbus Resident Agency who conducted the investigation. The Chief of O’Brien’s White Collar/Economic Crime Unit, Jeffrey A. Blake assisted the FBI in the investigation.
Weddington was indicted by the Franklin County grand jury for Bribery, a third degree felony, Election Falsification, a fifth degree felony, and filing a False Ethics Disclosure statement, a first degree misdemeanor. The charges in the current indictment carry a maximum penalty of 4 ½ years in prison. Dependent on the course of the investigation, other charges may be forthcoming against Weddington.
The Bribery count alleges that Representative Weddington received cash, and all expense paid trips to South Beach Miami, Florida and Napa Valley, California during 2011, as well as checks and cash for campaign contributions, in order to corrupt or influence him in the performance of his official duties as a State Representative.
One count in the indictment charges Weddington made false statements in the “Committee to Elect Weddington”2011 annual campaign finance report filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. It is alleged that the report falsely states the contributions and expenditures that were received by him and the committee, as well as the total figures for that campaign finance report.
Finally, the indictment charges Weddington with filing a false 2011 Ethics Financial Disclosure report with the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, a report that all members of the General Assembly must file. Weddington failed to disclose gifts, travel, and lodging expenses that are required by law to be listed on that financial disclosure form.
FBI SAC Hanko stated that it is a priority of the FBI to identify and investigate cases of political corruption and that Special Agents in the Columbus Resident Agency commenced this investigation after information came to their office in connection with payday loan legislation being considered at the Ohio Statehouse. As a result of the investigation that followed, FBI agents collected significant evidence that resulted in the indictment today against Representative Weddington.
FBI agents approached Representative Weddington after the false financial disclosure report was filed in February 2012. Followingconsultation with counsel, Representative Weddington agreed to cooperate with the FBI and O’Brien’s office. The first step in that cooperation was an agreement to resign his elected position in the Ohio General Assembly, which he has submitted today. That resignation was sought because the legislature is returning from a recess and was to resume legislative sessions. It was agreed Weddington should not participate. Also, Weddington will withdraw his candidacy for re-election and request that his name be removed from the November ballot.
Weddington has been debriefed by FBI agents prior to his indictment and he will continue to cooperate while the terms of a final agreement are negotiated by his attorney Sam Shamansky and the Prosecutors office.
Prosecutor O’Brien commended the efforts of the FBI Special Agents involved for their work during the investigation and said that his research found no case of a General Assembly member being indicted for Bribery in almost a century.
For more information contact Christy McCreary, PIO Franklin County Prosecutors office 614-525-3555, or Todd Lindgren, FBI Media Coordinator 513-979-8347.
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| Mar 7, 2012 | Jacqueline Kincade |
GROVE CITY PAYROLL EMPLOYEE INDICTED FOR THEFT IN OFFICE
March 7, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Jacqueline K. Kincade, age 62, for one count (F-3) Theft in Office, two counts (F-3) Tampering with Records, one count (F-5) Collecting and Failing to Remit Withholding Taxes, and two counts (F-5) Filing Incomplete, False, Fraudulent Returns, for a total of six counts. Jacqueline Kincade was a payroll clerk for Grove City and had worked there for over 20 years. Between January 1, 2004 to December 17, 2010, Kincade allegedly issued herself 26 unauthorized checks from the Grove City payroll account, totalling approximately $68,000. Kincade also allegedly moved money from other funds or paid Grove City’s tax obligations late to avoid discovery. The loss to the City is over $900,000 including the theft, IRS penalties and interest, audit and professional fees, and police overtime. “This was a long time trusted employee who abused her position for personal financial gain,” O’Brien stated.
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| Mar 2, 2012 | Ryan Velie |
WORTHINGTON SCHOOLS LOCKDOWN SUSPECT INDICTED
March 2, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Ryan D. Velie, age 32, for one count (F-5) Possession of a Dangerous Ordinance, and two counts (F-5) Possession of Criminal Tools, for a total of three counts. On Friday, February 10th, four Worthington Schools went into lockdown as Worthington Police and Columbus SWAT officers surrounded a home located at 661 Farrington Drive. Police received a report that there was an armed adult male inside the home. Inside the home, police located ten firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. One of the weapons was an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle, loaded with a 40 round magazine. Police confiscated all of the guns and ammunition, along with miscellaneous materials used for potentially making pipe bombs. O’Brien commended the Worthington PD, CPD SWAT, and the Columbus Fire Department Bomb Squad for rapidly securing the neighborhood and for their thorough search of the home.
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