Coin Dealer's (Noe) Jury Selection Starts (OH)

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/oct/10/101000258.html

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Just four weeks before Election Day, jury selection began Tuesday in the case against a Republican fundraiser accused of embezzling at least $2 million from a rare-coin investment that he managed for the state.

The scandal has rocked the Ohio GOP and raised Democrats' hopes of retaking the governorship for the first time in 12 years.

Tom Noe, a 52-year-old coin dealer, is charged with theft, money laundering, forgery and a corrupt activity charge. He could get up to 10 years in prison on the corrupt activity charge, which includes the allegation that he stole from the $50 million rare coin fund.

A state audit said Noe funneled the money into his own businesses, spent some remodeling his Florida Keys home and lent money to friends.

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