The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday federal charges against a Cuyahoga County Land Bank employee accused of helping a demolition company get contracts in return for completing work on his house, according to a news release.
Kenneth Tyson, 48, has been charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud, honest services wire fraud and bribery.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Tyson was a property specialist for the Cuyahoga County Land Bank and acted as an intermediary between East Cleveland on demolition, land acquisition and various other projects.
Authorities said Tyson, "exercised influence" over which companies could compete for contracts with the land bank.
Investigators said between 2013 and 2018, Tyson conspired with Residential Commerical Industrial Services (RCI) as well as with East Cleveland's chief of staff to have the contractor placed on the land bank's qualified demolition contractor list and bid on properties.
Tyson sought free contractor and repair services for his home on Castleton Road in Cleveland Heights in exchange for the company to receive an invitation for land bank demolition bids, authorities said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office didn't name the chief of staff in the news release.
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Authorities said RCI was billed $2,565 in October 2013 for plumbing work at Tyson's residence. Later that month, authorities say the East Cleveland official billed the company $1,000 to have a tree cut down on the same property.
On Nov. 21, 2013, authorities said RCI was added to the land bank's system, giving the company the opportunity to bid on lank bank contracts. Shortly thereafter, the Land Bank invited the company to bid on three properties. Authorities said RCI submitted the lowest bids and was given the contracts.
Between January and March of the following year, the land bank sent three checks totaling more than $30,000 for the work, authorities said. Around July 2014, RCI paid around $3,200 for work done to Tyson's property, authorities said.
Authorities issued the following statements:
“This defendant used his position to enrich himself with free home repairs when he was supposed to be helping rid our community of blight,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “We remain committed to stamping out public corruption in all its forms.”
“The charges disclosed today prove our continuing resolve to root out fraud and corruption in all forms, especially when the programs involved should have been used to help our neediest families,” said HUD-OIG Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary. “It is our continuing core mission to work with our Federal law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of our housing programs and to take strong action against those who seek to personally benefit from taxpayer-funded grants.”
“Our tax-paying citizens are entitled to decisions based on the best interests of the public, not the best interests of corrupt public officials and bribe-paying contractors,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony said. “The FBI will continue to hold those that violate the public trust accountable in a court of law.”
