Former Maple Heights City Schools Treasurer Sentenced for Bribery in Cuyahoga County Public Corruption Investigation
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 07, 2011 |
AKRON, OH—The former treasurer of Maple Heights City Schools was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for paying bribes in exchange for public contracts as part of the Cuyahoga County public corruption investigation, Sharon L. Long, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in the Northern District of Ohio announced.
Christopher D. Krause, 53, of Hudson, Ohio, was sentenced to 87 months in prison.
He pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
Krause, in his professional capacity at MHCS, procured items for his personal use from Sam’s Club, GFS and others, according to court documents.
He 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 court documents.
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 court documents.
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.