Four People Plead Guilty as Part of County Corruption Investigation

Four people pled guilty today to a variety of crimes related to the Cuyahoga County public corruption investigation, Sharon L. Long, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in the Northern District of Ohio announced.

Those who pled guilty are:

Christopher D. Krause, 52, of Hudson Ohio, the former treasurer of the Maple Heights City Schools (MHCS), to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Giacanto Vaccarella, 52, of North Royalton, Ohio, the former director of building and grounds for the MHCS, to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Rocky Laurie, 51, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the former business manager of the MHCS, to one count of misprision of a felony and one count of making a false statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Todd Gemma, 40, of Solon, Ohio, a principal of Gemma Development Company, to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

All four men pled guilty to criminal informations that were filed in May.

Among the conduct detailed in the information filed against Krause, Vaccarella, and a person identified as Public Employee 16 included selling a MHCS-owned 47-foot Bil-Jax boom lift for $7,200 in April 2008 and splitting the proceeds among themselves.

Krause and Laurie, in their professional capacities at MHCS, procured items for their personal use and the personal use of others, including Santina Klimkowski and Louis C. Damiani. The items were from Sam’s Club, GFS, and others, according to the information.

Krause also obtained a sump pump, power washer, generator, weed whacker, backpack leaf blower, other miscellaneous tools, electronic items, and bottled water valued at approximately $4,300, according to the information.

Krause also accepted cash, a John Deere tractor, landscaping services, painting work, a furnace, gasoline gift cards, and other items of value between 2005 and 2008 in return for business and contracts from the MHCS, according to the information.

Gemma gave Krause a $5,000 cash bribe in return for MHCS contracts valued at $87,200, according to the information

Sentencing dates will be determined later.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ann C. Rowland and Antoinette Thomas Bacon following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.