Newly-released documents are shining new light on the federal corruption investigation inside Cleveland City Hall.
Thousands of pages of documents were released by the City of Cleveland Monday after a records request by 5 On Your Side Investigators. That release included a copy of a subpoena served on the city, requesting records pertaining to payments, contracts and correspondence between the city, two individuals, and three companies.
In response, the city turned over 3,462 pages to a federal grand jury.
It came just days before federal prosecutors announced charges against Rufus Taylor, the retired manager of the city's Demolition Bureau.
Last week, 60-year-old Taylor pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges. Investigators say he asked for and received payments from contractors in exchange for preferential treatment in the bidding process.
In January, Taylor retired from his nearly $70,000-a-year job after 30 years with the city. Records show he was owed more than $37,000 in unused sick and vacation time along with overtime.
Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Investigators have not said publicly if his plea deal included an agreement to testify against other potential targets of the investigation.
A city spokesman said until he's sentenced, it's not clear whether or not the guilty pleas will affect Taylor's pension.
