Federal prosecutors allege that Vincent Russo, son of Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo, tried to get work for clients by bribing officials of the Maple Heights City School District in December 2007. Russo delivered two TVs to the home of Maple Heights School Board member Santina or Sandy Klimkowski. She gave one of the TVs to the district's treasurer.
But after FBI agents raided the offices of Vince Russo's company, Vincore LLC, prosecutors say Russo told Klimkowski to "get rid of" the TVs. The Maple Heights Schools' treasurer allegedly did, stashing it in a warehouse owned by the district.
On Wednesday, Russo pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and obstruction. His father, Frank, did not appear in court. Speaking to a crowd of reporters outside the federal courthouse, Vince Russo's attorney William Beyer says there is an alternate explanation for the TVs.
William Beyer: There is and it will all come out at trial.
Vince Russo was released on a $50,000 bond. Auditor Frank Russo and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora have not been charged with crimes nor identified by name, but unnamed politicians that match their descriptions have appeared in many of the probe's indictments. Neither Frank Russo nor Dimora offered comment. When asked if charges against Vince Russo were intended to put pressure on his father Frank, a spokesman for the US attorney's office would not comment.