Former Strongsville City Council Member Sentenced in Connection with Cuyahoga County Corruption Investigation
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 26, 2011 |
Patrick J. Coyne, age 52, formerly a member of Strongsville City Council, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a bribery scheme related to Cuyahoga County public corruption investigation and a separate investment scheme, federal law enforcement officials said.
U.S. District Judge Patricia Gaugahn sentenced Coyne to 57 months in prison.
Coyne previously pleaded guilty to one count each of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, money laundering, conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, structuring, and wire fraud.
Coyne admitted taking $20,000 in bribes from real estate developer David Terry in 2008 with the intent to be influenced or rewarded for business transactions in connection with City of Strongsville, according to court records.
The money laundering conviction is in connection with a payment Coyne made toward the purchase of a condominium in Marblehead, Ohio, using bribe money obtained from Terry. Terry previously pleaded guilty to bribing Coyne.
Coyne also admitted using his position and influence to affect hiring decisions at the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s office.
Coyne is also pleaded guilty to running a fraud from March 2011 through May 3, 2011, in which he invited an investor to invest in a Krispy Kreme doughnut franchise in Brunswick, Ohio. In April 2011, the investor wrote Coyne two checks for a total of $32,000, but Coyne never disclosed to the investor that he had not discussed the franchise plan with Krispy Kreme, according to court records.
On May 5, 2011, The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against this condominium, which was valued at approximately $222,200. In the Complaint in Forfeiture, the United States alleges that on or about January 18, 2008, Coyne paid more than $10,000 toward his purchase of the condominium using criminally derived money. Under federal law, property involved in such a transaction is subject to forfeiture to the United States.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy L. Kelley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon, following an investigation by the Cleveland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The investigation is ongoing.