CINCINNATI, Ohio – The 6th U.S. Court of Appeals this morning rejected ex-Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s request to have his racketeering and corruption convictions overturned, and his 28-year prison sentence reduced.

In a 17-page opinion penned by Judge Jeffrey Sutton, the three-judge panel cited Dimora’s pattern of corrupt activity, including a notorious, luxurious gambling junket to Las Vegas in exchange for county patronage; thousands of dollars for government jobs; and $30,000 in home improvements in exchange for public construction contracts.

"These and other this-for-that arrangements were more than kindly gestures, more than mere ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous’ among friends,” the opinion said.

The appeals court also rejected Dimora co-defendant Michael Gabor’s request for a new trial and reduced prison sentence.