East Cleveland mayor, councilman enter pleas on corruption charges
The corruption cases against the mayor of East Cleveland and one of its councilman moved forward Friday.
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EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — The mayor of East Cleveland and a city councilman both appeared in court Friday for their arraignment on corruption charges.
The FOX 8 I-Team was the first to report that Mayor Brandon King and East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith were indicted in early October.
The corruption charges against King include two counts of theft in office, four counts of having unlawful interest in a public contract, four counts of representation by public official or employee, one count of filing a false disclosure statement and one count of soliciting improper compensation.
According to prosecutors, between Jan. 1, 2019, and Oct. 2, 2024, King allegedly “authorized a public contract and payments through the city of East Cleveland to businesses owned by King and his family members.”
Prosecutors said he authorized leasing office space in a building owned by King Management Group Limited to the city’s domestic violence department for more than $14,100 per year.
The city of East Cleveland bought more than $5,800 in cleaning supplies from American Merchandising Service, which is also owned by King, between March 16, 2019, and Feb. 22, 2022, according to prosecutors.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that King improperly provided a city car to former East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2022.
“King also provided Smith with the city of East Cleveland gas cards to purchase vehicle fuel. While Smith had the vehicle, he used two gas cards to purchase $6,791 of gas at the expense of the City of East Cleveland,” prosecutors said in the release.
Smith was indicted on several charges, including one count of theft in office, two counts of theft, one count of soliciting improper compensation and one count of misuse of credit cards.
“Mayor Brandon King demonstrated a complete disregard and disdain for the rule of law,” Prosecutor Michael O’Malley is quoted in a news release. “The citizens of East Cleveland deserve better. The investigation continues.”
In court Friday, Mayor King entered a not-guilty plea and was given a $5,000 bond.
Smith also entered a not-guilty plea and was given a $5,000 bond.
Their next court date has not been set.
This comes months after prosecutors indicted several East Cleveland police officers on a wide variety of charges related to corruption.
