Cleveland Councilman Kenneth Johnson walks to federal court in Akron for the start of his trial last July. His longtime friend, Robert Fitzpatrick, was sparedAKRON, Ohio --
Fitzpatrick told Adams that he took responsibility for his actions and said Johnson “manipulated me, threatened me and was trying to scare me” into helping him pocket taxpayer money. Fitzpatrick, who worked as a regional manager of the parks and recreation department, submitted time sheets that said he performed the work each month. Johnson approved them, then sought reimbursement from the city’s discretionary fund. The scheme ran from 2010 through the fall of 2018, when Naymik’s columns first appeared, and netted Johnson $127,200 in reimbursements.
John Hopkins, the former president of the neighborhood agency, and Garnell Jamison, an aide to Johnson, were also charged. The same jury that convicted Johnson found Jamison guilty in the schemes. Adams sentenced him to five years in prison.
Why?