Here's a timeline of key events in the case of former Portland parking manager Ellis K. McCoy, who is set to be sentenced Wednesday for taking bribes to steer business to the Cale parking meter manufacturer. Newly released emails show the distributor making the bribes sent emails about the favorable treatment to an executive who is now president of Cale's U.S. operations. Portland officials this month signed a contract to buy more Cale meters.

October 2003: Florida businessman George Levey founds Cale Parking Systems USA, the sole distributor of Cale parking meters in the U.S.

February 2004: Levey and his company begin bribing Portland parking manager, Ellis K. McCoy. Federal prosecutors ultimately document bribes totaling nearly $60,000 in cash and dozens of trips. (Levey also bribed McCoy for about 11/2 years through a previous company.)

July 2004: The Portland City Council, at McCoy's recommendation, approves a pilot project for the Lloyd District. Cale provides free parking meters in hopes of winning a long-term contract.

September 2005: Levey emails Cale executives -- including Edward Olender, then Cale Systems' vice president -- to say McCoy will produce an "air tight" process that only Cale can win.

January 2006: McCoy emails a confidential draft copy of Portland's meter solicitation to Levey, who forwards it to Cale executives, including Olender.

March 2006: A subordinate working for Levey emails a copy of Cale's meter proposal to McCoy, who offers suggested changes. Levey forwards the email chain to company officials, including Olender.

June 2006: The City Council approves a $1.6 million contract with Cale after McCoy recommends the deal.

January 2007: Levey gives McCoy the last cash bribe, though trips continue until July 2011. Federal prosecutors say the cash bribes ended because reporters began questioning the relationship. Levey instead promised to pay McCoy $100 per meter after McCoy retires but didn't follow through because federal investigators unraveled the scheme.

August 2007 to March 2010: The City Council increases its contract with Cale to about $2 million; then to $4.5 million; then to $20 million.

August 2011: FBI agents raid McCoy's city office, his Hillsboro home and Cale's Florida offices.

December 2011: Sweden-based Cale Group announces that it has acquired Levey's company and formed subsidiary Cale America. Olender is named president.

January 2012: Then-Mayor Sam Adams says he wants to suspend the city's contract with Cale, and says he assumes future purchases will be competitively bid.

August 2012: McCoy pleads guilty to accepting bribes, among other charges.

October 2012: Portland's internal investigation of McCoy's work and the Cale contract uncover "no obvious defects or improprieties."

August 2013: Commissioner Steve Novick tells The Oregonian/OregonLive that Portland will keep buying meters from Cale because the city got a good deal but later backtracks and says the city will launch a competitive process.

December 2013: Olender and Andreas Jansson, executives for Cale America, meet with The Oregonian/OregonLive in the Portland offices of lobbying firm Gallatin Public Affairs and say they will fight for the city's business.

May 2014: Portland seeks competitive proposals for up to 1,000 parking meters.

January 2015: Cale America is awarded an $11.9 million contract for meters and technical services.

April 2015: Levey pleads guilty to wire fraud for bribing McCoy.

May 2015: City and Cale officials sign the contract. Weeks later, federal prosecutors release emails Levey sent to Cale executives.

May 27, 2015: McCoy is set to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland.

-- Brad Schmidt

503-294-7628

@cityhallwatch