NEWS NEWS
P.G. Sittenfeld. P H O T O : J E S S E F OX
P.G. Sittenfeld Found Guilty on Two Federal P.G. Sittenfeld Found Guilty on Two Federal Corruption Charges, Not Guilty on Four Others Corruption Not Guilty onanywhere Four Legal experts now say theCharges, former Cincinnati City Council member faces fromOthers a few years to a dozen years insay prison. Legal experts now the former Cincinnati City Council member faces anywhere from a few years BY L I S O N years BA B K Ain prison. to aA Ldozen BY A L L I S O N BA B K A
T T
he verdict is in. A jury found former Cincinhe verdict is in. nati City Council member P.G. A jury found former CincinSittenfeld guilty of two federal corrupnati City Council member P.G. tion-related charges on July 8. SittenSittenfeld guilty of two federal corrupfeld’s sentencing has not been set yet, tion-related charges on July 8. Sittenbut that likely will happen in several feld’s sentencing has not been set yet, weeks or months. but that likely will happen in several Previously, Sittenfeld had turned weeks or months. down a plea agreement that could Previously, Sittenfeld had turned have meant a maximum of two years down a plea agreement that could in prison; legal experts now say he’s have meant a maximum of two years facing anywhere from a few years to a in prison; legal experts now say he’s dozen years. facing anywhere from a few years to a Sittenfeld’s federal trial launched dozen years. June 21 with the start of the jury selecSittenfeld’s federal trial launched tion. In 2020, Sittenfeld was arrested June 21 with the start of the jury selecon a six-count indictment for a scheme tion. In 2020, Sittenfeld was arrested in which Sittenfeld allegedly traded on a six-count indictment for a scheme cash for votes relating to the developin which Sittenfeld allegedly traded ment of the former Convention Place cash for votes relating to the developMall. ment of the former Convention Place On July 8, the jury found SittenMall. feld guilty of bribery and attempted On July 8, the jury found Sittenextortion but acquitted him on two feld guilty of bribery and attempted counts of honest services wire fraud, extortion but acquitted him on two one count of bribery and one count of counts of honest services wire fraud, attempted extortion by a government one count of bribery and one count of attempted extortion by a government
6
C I T Y B E AT. C O M
|
official. The jury began deliberating on July 6, taking about 12 working hours official. The jury began deliberating on to reach a decision. There were nine July 6, taking about 12 working hours women and three men on the jury, to reach a decision. There were nine and they were from several counties women and three men on the jury, throughout southern Ohio. Two jurors and they were from several counties were replaced by alternates as the trial throughout southern Ohio. Two jurors progressed. were replaced by alternates as the trial Prosecutors did not need to show progressed. express, direct quid pro quo – Latin Prosecutors did not need to show for “in exchange for” – for the jury to express, direct quid pro quo – Latin find Sittenfeld guilty. Jurors simply for “in exchange for” – for the jury to needed to see that Sittenfeld had an find Sittenfeld guilty. Jurors simply understanding to work in favor of the needed to see that Sittenfeld had an undercover FBI agents who posed as understanding to work in favor of the investors. Sittenfeld’s attorney argued undercover FBI agents who posed as that the defendant had been merely investors. Sittenfeld’s attorney argued pro-development. that the defendant had been merely Sittenfeld’s trial featured video, pro-development. audio and testimony from FBI agents, Sittenfeld’s trial featured video, former Cincinnati City Council memaudio and testimony from FBI agents, bers, current interim city manager former Cincinnati City Council memJohn Curp, and former Cincinnati bers, current interim city manager Bengal and real estate developer ChinJohn Curp, and former Cincinnati edum Ndukwe, among others. Bengal and real estate developer ChinThe two-and-a-half-week trial was edum Ndukwe, among others. held at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse The two-and-a-half-week trial was downtown. During his testimony, held at Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse downtown. During his testimony,
J U LY 1 3 - 2 6 , 2 0 2 2
Sittenfeld said that no matter what the jury decided, he would “probably Sittenfeld said that no matter what never be in politics again.” the jury decided, he would “probably never be in politics again.” The background behind Sittenfeld’s federal corruption case The background behind Sittenfeld’s FBI agents arrested Sittenfeld at his federal corruption case home in November of 2020 on a sixFBI agents arrested Sittenfeld at his count federal indictment for bribery home in November of 2020 on a sixand extortion. Investigators said Sitcount federal indictment for bribery tenfeld had arranged what amounted and extortion. Investigators said Sitto campaign donations, though he tenfeld had arranged what amounted circumvented election law by directing to campaign donations, though he those payments to a Political Action circumvented election law by directing Committee which he secretly conthose payments to a Political Action trolled. Sittenfeld promised favorable Committee which he secretly condevelopment deals as he personally trolled. Sittenfeld promised favorable accepted 10 checks – for a total of development deals as he personally $40,000 – in exchange for votes, invesaccepted 10 checks – for a total of tigators said. $40,000 – in exchange for votes, invesSittenfeld was suspended from tigators said. Cincinnati City Council in December Sittenfeld was suspended from of that year. To replace him, HamCincinnati City Council in December ilton County Probate Judge Ralph of that year. To replace him, Ham“Ted” Winkler appointed Liz Keating, ilton County Probate Judge Ralph who retained her council seat in last “Ted” Winkler appointed Liz Keating, November’s election. who retained her council seat in last Before the indictment, Sittenfeld November’s election. Before the indictment, Sittenfeld
had been considered a frontrunner in the 2021 Cincinnati mayoral race, had been considered a frontrunner which former Hamilton County clerk in the 2021 Cincinnati mayoral race, of courts Aftab Pureval ultimately won. which former Hamilton County clerk Sittenfeld announced his withdrawal of courts Aftab Pureval ultimately won. from the race on Feb. 18 of that year, Sittenfeld announced his withdrawal the filing deadline for potential from the race on Feb. 18 of that year, candidates. the filing deadline for potential The charges against Sittenfeld candidates. were part of a larger scandal that has The charges against Sittenfeld enveloped the city in recent years. The were part of a larger scandal that has carousel of corruption cases began enveloped the city in recent years. The when council member Tamaya Dencarousel of corruption cases began nard was indicted on federal bribery when council member Tamaya Dencharges related to her solicitation of nard was indicted on federal bribery $15,000 from a local attorney. Dennard charges related to her solicitation of resigned in March 2020, pleaded guilty $15,000 from a local attorney. Dennard that June, and was sentenced to 18 resigned in March 2020, pleaded guilty months in prison. that June, and was sentenced to 18 Council member Jeff Pastor was months in prison. charged in November 2020 on 10 Council member Jeff Pastor was federal counts of bribery, extortion, charged in November 2020 on 10 money laundering and conspiracy to federal counts of bribery, extortion, commit wire fraud. That was the same money laundering and conspiracy to month that Sittenfeld was arrested. commit wire fraud. That was the same In 2018, Sittenfeld was part of the month that Sittenfeld was arrested. “Gang of Five” texting scandal that In 2018, Sittenfeld was part of the involved several council members. “Gang of Five” texting scandal that involved several council members.
