Raphael then also tried to cover up his crime in the food service deal by telling the Ethics Commission he had taken nothing of value from the bidder and producing a false document, Glenn-Applegate said.
Bribery is not victimless, Glenn-Applegate pressed, costing the public money and faith in their leaders. The law, he said, demands that the risk be as high as the reward. Public officials don't stumble into bribery schemes. When Centerplate used the information supplied to it by Raphael and won the contract, it almost immediately helped arrange for Raphael to lead a contingent of city officials and their family members on a Centerplate-subsidized junket to Indianapolis to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes football team beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game.
The guests watched from the firm's private loge at Lucas Oil Stadium, enjoying food and alcohol supplied by the firm. The group of city officials in attendance included Mayor Andrew J. Hardin, who then had just been appointed to the council. Raphael had served a month stint in federal prison starting in mid for extorting campaign contributions from a Chicago red-light camera firm, Redflex, that sought help extending a city contract allowing it to automatically write traffic tickets to motorists in which the firm collected a fee off the top.
Court documents linked the red-light camera extortion scheme to then-City Council President Andrew J. Ginther, another former council president, Michael C. Mentel, and former Mayor Michael B.
Specifically, it states that Raphael entered into a secret contract unknown to the Facilities Authority to represent an unnamed firm, "Company A," in securing food services business that also was sought by three of the firm's competitors. Centerplate did win the contract with Raphael's assistance in providing confidential documents and advocating contract changes the firm sought to shift certain costs from itself to the center.
The company then quit using him as a consultant. Raphael, 65, was not confined to jail or given any court supervision as he awaits sentencing from home, but was ordered to turn in his passport by Friday and agree to not attempt any international travel.
He told the judge he suffers from various medical conditions, including heart problems. It was unclear Wednesday whether the federal investigation into the Convention Center contracts has now concluded. The waste authority eventually fired Raphael in late after a new executive director took over. The Dispatch reported in August that Raphael, once considered one of the most-powerful lobbyists at Columbus City Hall, had landed a public consulting job with the village of Obetz just weeks before Columbus officials announced plans to relocate the Crew SC's practice facility from Obetz to Mapfre Stadium.
Obetz finalized a no-bid contract with Raphael on Nov. Rod Davisson, the village's administrator, called the timing of the contract "coincidental at best" because Raphael wasn't hired to help retain the Crew, which was negotiating at the time with Obetz to extend the lease on a practice facility it has used since The Obetz Village Council never approved Raphael's contract.
Documents obtained by The Dispatch show that Raphael continued to bill the village after his initial contract had expired, prompting the village finance director to email him: "Will you please forward me your signed agreement, or extension? Texas governor approves state voting maps redrawn by GOP. Myanmar in spotlight at summit, with junta chief barred. Load Error. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Found the story interesting? Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. I'm already a fan, don't show this again. Send MSN Feedback. The GCCC removed Centerplate as its main vendor in after the bribery scheme came to light, and fired then-convention center manager Rodney Myers after it discovered he was also being paid by Centerplate.
In , Raphael was also sentenced to 15 months in federal prison when he pleaded guilty to one count of extorting thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for Columbus city officials from Redflex, a company that supplies red-light cameras and other vehicle monitoring systems. Search Query Show Search. Classical Show Search Search Query.
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