While using his walker as he was escorted from the courtroom, Dimora said to prosecutors, "I hope you guys are happy."

Before she handed down the sentence, Lioi said Dimora abused his power as a politician.

“The reach of his corruption was far and wide,” Lioi said. "The destruction left in its wake is incalculable."

The conduct was part of daily workings in Cuyahoga County, a pervasive pattern of corruption, she said.

"In the world of Cuyahoga County corruption, they had somewhat of a symbiotic relationship," she said.

Lioi said that while Dimora did good things as mayor of Bedford Heights, his behavior become less about helping others and more about helping Jimmy Dimora.

"Somewhere along the way he began using his power and authority for his own benefit."

His conduct caused the citizens of the county to lose faith in their public officials and in their government.

Lioi said that Dimora's behavior was more insidious than former Auditor Frank Russo, who only took cash. Dimora wielded his influence more subtly.

He turned into a master of convincing people that they had to go through him to get what they needed.

Lioi said the court was well aware of the issue of sentencing disparities and has considered that in coming to a conclusion in this case. She said each case must be decided on its own merits and based on its own facts.

Lioi summarized the investigation, which began in 2007 and has netted convictions against more than 60 people with more awaiting trial.

She summarized the charges against Dimora: bribery, extortion, obstruction of justice and racketeering.

Lioi said, "It appears as though the defendant belongs to a close-knit family and extended family."

Lioi said Dimora admitted in his pre-sentence report that he needs to address his alcohol consumption problem.

The sentence for federal prosecutors is the pinnacle of a years-long investigation that focused on ferreting out corruption in Cuyahoga County.

More than 60 county employees and businessmen have been convicted of dozens of bribery and kickback schemes.

Federal prosecutors had asked for a “landmark corruption sentence” of at least 22 years. Anything less would not accurately reflect the seriousness of Dimora's crimes, Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon said in sentencing documents.

Dimora was Democratic Party leader from 1994 until he resigned in 2009.

He was also elected as Cuyahoga County commissioner in 1998, after a long stint as Bedford Heights mayor.

Dimora's defense lawyer William Whitaker had asked the judge to give Dimora “far below” the 22 years sought by prosecutors.

On Monday, the Whitakers spent most of the day whittling away at the amount of loss federal prosecutors said Dimora had caused the government and the amount they said he had gained from the schemes.

They managed to get the number reduced from more than $3 million to just over $451,000. The number was expected to figure into his sentence because of federal sentencing guidelines judges use to help them determine sentences.

Dimora's lawyers also called several witnesses that knew Dimora while he was mayor of Bedford Heights and relatives who attested that Dimora was a loving and caring person.

His daughter, Lisa, testified on Monday that her father had always worked hard for his family and was present throughout her life prior to his incarceration. Dimora wiped tears from his face as she testified.

Dimora's home and county offices were raided on July 28, 2008 in the first public move of the FBI's investigation into county corruption.

His political ally and close friend Frank Russo pleaded guilty to more than 20 corruption-related charges in December 2010 and soon began cooperating against him.

“I'm not an angel, but I'm no crook,” Dimora asserted at a June 2009 news conference after the investigation became public. “I'm not doing anything different."

With Plain Dealer Reporter Stan Donaldson



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