AKRON, Ohio -- Summit County Councilwoman Tamela Lee vouched for men with criminal records and took bribes in the process, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

Lee faces six federal charges of conspiracy, bribery and lying to FBI agents. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The two men accused of bribing her, Omar and Abdelrahman Abdelqader, have criminal histories dating back to the 1990s. Their convictions involve illegal business practices.

Omar Abdelqader served as a liaison between Lee, his relatives and other Akron business owners looking to curry favor with Lee with bribes of cash, gifts and services, according to federal prosecutors.

Lee even pretended to be a family member of the Abdelqaders' in Akron Municipal Court case in order to try and get a lesser sentence for a relative, the indictment says.

She also interceded on behalf Samir Abdelqader's assault case in Summit County Juvenile Court, according to an 11-count federal indictment. Samir Abdelqader is Abdelrahman Abdelqader's son and Omar Abdelqader's nephew.

All three of Lee's co-defendants have criminal histories.

Omar Abdelqader, 49, of North Canton

Omar Abdelqader's was convicted in 2008 in a large-scale cigarette tax evasion scheme. He sold $200,000 worth of cigarettes in a way that he could avoid paying taxes on the sales.

He eventually pleaded guilty to aggravated theft and was sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service and was forced pay $199,434 in restitution to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

He also pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony aggravated theft on behalf of his company, A to Z Wholesale.

Abdelrahman Abdelqader, 42, of Canton

The Ohio Department of Taxation found Abdelrahman Abdelqader illegally selling tobacco products at two different locations in the same day in September 2009.

Inspectors performing routine checks on Akron businesses and first found Abdelrahman Abdelqader selling cigarettes without a license from Empress Market in the 500 block of East Exchange Street.

Later in the day, the inspectors found him working at Kelly's Carry Out and Drive-Thru on Copley Road. There, Abdelqader was selling single loose cigarettes. Inspectors seized 57 loose cigarettes as part of their investigation.

He eventually pleaded guilty to two fourth-degree misdemeanors and was fined $300.

He was also convicted in 1995 of selling alcohol to minors at the Purple Place store in the 800 block of East Tallmadge Avenue.

Samir Abdelqader, 19, of Fairlawn

Samir Abdelqader's case in Summit County Juvenile Court ended with an assault conviction, according to federal prosecutors. He eventually pleaded guilty to felonious assault and was sentenced to four months probation.

Samir Abdelqader got into a fight between his cousin and a 27-year-old North Royalton man on June 1, 2014 at a barbershop, according to the federal indictment and Akron police reports.

The 27-year-old man drove away from the fight. The 18-year-old cousin followed him and cut him off at the intersection of South Arlington and Exchange streets. He punched the 27-year-old through his car window. The man got out and the two exchanged punches.

The 27-year-old man knocked the 18-year-old to the ground.

He was walking back to his car when Samir Abdelqader sped up and hit the 27-year-old man with his car. The impact sent the man flying into the air. He landed on the side of the road and was taken to Akron General Medical Center with serious injuries.

Samir Abdelqader was charged and convicted of felonious assault in juvenile court. Lee tried to intervene on his behalf in the case, according to federal prosecutors.

Lee took several payments from the Abdelqaders and a Bi-Rite grocery store they are affiliated with. She placed several calls to the judge, magistrate and other court employees, according to the indictment.

She also told the Abdelqaders to tell the judge that she is their cousin, even though she is not related to them, according to the federal indictment.

"You know then, you know, feel free to, you know, say you know Councilwoman Lee, that you are our cousin," Lee told Omar Abdelqader in a wiretapped conversation, according to the indictment. "You know, just claim me as your family."