CLEVELAND
John J. Cafaro avoided a prison sentence, but he didn’t avoid being held accountable for making a false statement about a contribution to his daughter’s ill-fated 2004 Congressional campaign.
“These statutes need to be taken seriously,” U.S. District Judge Kathleen O’Malley said of federal campaign financing laws.
However, she added: “The court concludes that a custody term is neither necessary, nor appropriate.”
Instead of prison, the judge imposed three years of probation, during which Cafaro must perform 150 hours of community service in his home community, and fined the former mall development executive $250,000.
Cafaro, 58, of Liberty Township, is the recently retired vice president of the Youngstown-based Cafaro Co., and he is the sole owner of the Brookfield-based Linens & More, a home decor retailer that is to open its first store next month in Howland.
Cafaro pleaded guilty in March to making a false statement about a contribution he gave to help the Congressional campaign of his daughter, state Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, who is now the Ohio Senate minority leader.
John Cafaro caused his daughter’s campaign committee to falsely report to the Federal Election Commission that he had given only $2,000 to her campaign, when, in fact, he gave an additional $10,000 in the form of a loan to the campaign manager for the campaign’s benefit, the U.S., Attorney said.
The legal limit for campaign gifts by individuals is $2,000.
For the complete story,r ead Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com
Comments
He deserved prison!
What an absolute load of CRAP!
How many times does this guy get to commit felonies before he actually gets jail time?
Now remember JJ. If you commit another felony, you are going to get probation, so be really careful.
What a farce,..
I sensed this was going to unfold when O’Malley's name suddenly popped in the picture.
The Judge that tossed Cafaro in the clink got word via the back channel to either humiliate himself and the judicial position. Or step aside and let a shill assume the seat and do it,.. and Presto probation appears !
Sure it's an absolute mockery on the entire justice system that emphatically proves it's rigged.
A reputed felon that's owned individuals holding every level of position you can imagine. Has a courtroom history of getting flopped, immunity and then back to back probation speaks for itself and shows you all you need to see.
See all that does is signals that unless you personally as an individual want to lead a good spiritual life.
There's nothing else that warrants anybody from jumping right into the crime spree lifestyle. To pick their game and see how much profit you can make for yourself.
See that's not being cynical that's just the unblemished and irrefutable facts.
Money talks and bulpoop walks.
His daughter is a joke too! Couldn't get elected by the people, but was appointed by one of her families cronies!
Money talks and B S walks. This cry baby makes me want to RAAALLLLFFFF! There is justice for the common man but the aristocracy is on a different planet. I hope that DeMarinis can explain his support of this criminal to someone.
Did you really think he would get jail time?? Come on he bought his way out of this mess too. Hopefully the voters will throw his daughter out of office next time. Oh wait, the idiots that live in this area keep re-electing the same thugs year after year. You people that keep voting for them deserve what you get so stop complaining.
dude.. Capri was never elected..
she was appointed into her current position when Marc Dann became AG.. and then ran unopposed by any Republican candidate in the next election.
She still has to run for re-election if she wants to keep her job you moron.
Please, please, PLEASE quit saying that the Cafaros are from Hubbard. NONE of them live in the City of Hubbard. Despite all its faults, Hubbard is still a nice place to live. We don't need thre stigma or stink of the Cafaros (most specifically JJ or Capri) hanging on our city.
"John J. Cafaro avoided a prison sentence"
Well, this was predictable . It looks like JJ still has plenty of clout .
Where and when will he be serving his sentence? It'd be nice to go take some pictures.
I bet he's planting flowers by the Eastwood Mall.
They will have him down at YSU teaching a class on politics . :)
No surprise here. People---don't get mad---this is typical Mahoning valley politics. It is a real shame. The man still has clout and a boat load of money.
I don't care what any of you say, 250k is no joke.
That is a large hunk of coin.
Let's see what happens with Renaissance place too.
"They will have him down at YSU teaching a class on politics . :)"
hahaha nice one Stan