 A subpoena served on Lorain City Hall Friday makes it clear that the federal corruption investigation that had focused so far on Cuyahoga County has expanded into Lorain County.
Among other things, the subpoena seeks city records related to longtime Community Development Director Sandy Prudoff, Cleveland halfway house Alternatives Agency and all contracts involving Prudoff's department between 2003 and 2007 - including a list of all contractors, consultants, brokers and third parties.
Mayor Tony Krasienko also revealed Friday that the FBI issued a subpoena to the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease seeking some of its records involving Lorain.
Attorney Anthony O. Calabrese III, a former partner at the firm, did legal work for Lorain. Calabrese has emerged as a key player in the corruption probe. At least six of his clients, including Lorain, have been touched by the corruption probe.
| Is he wanted on twelve systems? |
In addition to working for Lorain, both Calabrese and Prudoff worked as contractors for Alternatives Agency, an East 55th Street halfway house that served as a cash cow for at least three others who have pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges including bribery.
| Clearly I must strive to become more worldly. I can't imagine how a halfway house could serve as a cash cow. |
Calabrese served as attorney for the nonprofit agency, which recently changed its name to Cuyahoga Re-entry Agency.
| That'll fool 'em, fer sher. |
And Prudoff -- who for more than three decades has been in charge of revitalizing neighborhoods in troubled Lorain -- said he scouted properties for Alternatives, which wanted to expand and build more halfway houses in Lorain or Erie counties.
Neither Calabrese nor Prudoff -- who is on paid leave -- could be reached Friday. A spokesman for the Vorys firm declined to comment. Calabrese left the firm last month, after several plea agreements implicated him in a bribery scheme. |