Former County Judge McCafferty found guilty of lying to FBI agents

[News_Editor]

Former County Judge McCafferty found guilty of lying to FBI agents

2011-03-26 05:13:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

AKRON, OHIO (BNO NEWS) -- Former Cuyahoga County Judge Bridgette McCafferty on Friday was found guilty to multiple counts related to lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, WOIO television reported.

A U.S. District Court in Akron, Ohio, found the former judge guilty of 10 counts of making false statements after four hours of deliberation. The trial began on Monday and McCafferty declined to testify.

The prosecution against McCafferty is the first one resulting from a public corruption investigation which surfaced in July 2008. The former judge lied to FBI agents in regards to conversations she had with individuals who had pending cases in her court.

During trial, it was demonstrated that county Auditor Frank Russo spoke with former DAS CEO Steve Pumper, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and the then-county auditor Frank Russo.

Prosecutors presented secret tape recordings in which she discussed pending cases with the three individuals. McCafferty admitted speaking with Russo and Pumper but denied fixing any cases.

However, Russo on Tuesday told the court that he called the former judge around 4 times per year and asked her to watch out for certain cases. Russo has pleaded guilty to corruption-related offenses.

In one recording, Pumper is heard telling the ex- Cuyahoga County judge the she did a "good job" for him. Prosecutors said that call was in relation to a case against DAS Construction.

McCafferty lost a re-election bid last fall. Russo and Dimora were targeted in a corruption probe but the former Commissioner denied any wrongdoing and is awaiting trial.

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