ODOT Probe: Secret Indictments Unsealed In Corruption Investigation

ODOT Probe: Secret Indictments Unsealed In Corruption Investigation

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason announced that three Ohio Department of Transportation officials and five ODOT vendors were indicted on corruption charges for using a wide-variety of scams to illegally steer ODOT contracts and business to friends and associates from 2000 to 2007.

The center of this criminal activity was ODOT’s District 12 headquarters located in Garfield Heights. The Ohio Inspector General’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

The primary target of the ODOT corruption case, Dennis L. Kratochvil, 65, of Chagrin Falls, was indicted on 26 charges: 1 count of racketeering, F1; 5 counts of bribery, F3, 1 count of theft in office, F3, 3 counts of obstructing justice, F5; and 16 counts of tampering with records, F3. Kratochvil was the District 12 Facilities Manager.

District 12 Storekeeper, Kevin M. Horrigan, 42, of Northfield Center, was indicted on 7 charges: 2 counts of bribery, F3; 1 count of theft in office, F4; 3 counts of attempted tampering with records, F4; and 1 count of unlawful interest in a public contract, F4.

District 12 Equipment Superintendent, Terrence M. Kosmata, 56, of Garfield Heights, was indicted on 3 charges: 1 count of bribery, F3; 1 count of attempted bribery, F4; and 1 count of theft in office, F4.

The following five ODOT vendors were indicted on similar charges. Kent L. Winter, 54, of Willoughby, owner of Winter Equipment, Co., in Willoughby was indicted on 15 charges: 1 count of racketeering, F1; 3 counts of bribery, F3; and 11 counts of tampering with records, F3.

Robert E. Jones, Jr., 48, of Painesville, owner of Lake Truck Sale & Services Inc., Jones Equipment Co., and principle for JEL Idealease, in Painsville, was indicted on 11 charges: 1 count of racketeering, F1; 2 counts of bribery, F3; 6 counts of tampering with records, F3; 1 count of forgery, F4; and 1 count of theft by deception, F4.

Philip C. Marek, age 41, of Aurora, President of Nozzle New Inc., and owner of Marek Land Company, in Solon, was indicted on 5 charges: 2 counts of bribery, F3; and 3 counts of attempted tampering with records, F4.

James Patrick Hartory, II, 38, of Chardon, CEO, Traditional Building Systems, Knight Mechanical Inc., and All-Controls Corp., in Mentor, was indicted on 3 charges: 1 count of bribery, F3; 1 count of attempted bribery, F4; and 1 count of attempted tampering with records, F4.                           

Dennis B. Kratochvil, 46, of Chesterland, owner of DeBord Plumbing and Heating Co., in Chardon, was indicted on 11 charges: 1 count of racketeering, F1; 5 counts of tempering with records, F3; and 5 counts of theft by deception, F3.

Three former ODOT officials and six vendors have been previously charged and sentenced for their role in this corruption.

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