News
Federal Indictment Alleges Campaign Finance Violations
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
A federal indictment alleges a direct-marketing magnate, another executive at his northeast Ohio company and others conspired to skirt campaign finance laws while funneling nearly $200,000 to two congressional campaigns.
An eight-count indictment was unsealed Wednesday against Benjamin Suarez, 72, of Canton and Michael Giorgio, 61, of Cuyahoga Falls. They're charged with violating campaign finance laws, obstructing justice, conspiracy counts and making false statements. Suarez also is charged with witness tampering.
The FBI questioned employees of Suarez Corporation Industries last year about donations to two Republicans, U.S. Rep. James Renacci and state treasurer Josh Mandel, who was running for the U.S. Senate. Renacci and Mandel each returned at least $100,000 in campaign contributions.
Court records do not list attorneys for Suarez and Giorgio.
Messages left for Mandel's and Renacci's spokesmen were not immediately returned.