FBI arrests Cincinnati councilman (R) after undercover agents reveal 'brazen' bribery scheme
FBI agents arrested Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor early Tuesday in what authorities describe as a brazen bribery scheme involving payoffs for help with city development projects. Federal prosecutors say Pastor, a Republican who joined council in January 2018, began soliciting money from developers within months of taking office and, in some instances, accepted bags of cash in return for his vote or other favorable treatment.
A friend of Pastor’s, Tyran Marshall, also faces federal charges and is described by prosecutors as "a middleman" who arranged for some payments and set up a charitable nonprofit through which Pastor funneled bribes.
Prosecutors say undercover FBI agents posing as developers used electronic surveillance and at least two whistleblowers to unravel the pay-to-play scheme, which included a trip to Miami with a developer and solicitations by Pastor for cash, investment opportunities and jobs.
Throughout the investigation, prosecutors say, Pastor suggested dollar amounts for the bribes and directed the agents on how to pay them. “Sometimes, the cash was literally handed to Pastor,” said U.S. Attorney David DeVillers, who will lead the prosecution. “Some of the things are so brazen.” He said Pastor, who is accused of collecting $55,000 in bribes, at one point told the undercover agents he should be paid $200,000 for his help and sought a "monthly retainer" for his continuing assistance.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fbi-arrests-cincinnati-councilman-undercover-203545850.html
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