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State now says David Bozanich must complete his prison sentence.
David Bozanich
State prison officials have reversed a previous statement that the only person jailed for their part in a public corruption scandal in Youngstown would be transferred to a temporary home after completing half of his one-year sentence.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections announced 21 News earlier Tuesday that former Youngstown finance director David Bozanich is due to be released from Lake Erie correctional facility on March 8, 2021.
At the time, an ODRC spokesman said Bozanich was allowed to clear the transition control on or after March 8, which would have put him in a house in between.
The state prison inmate database also listed March 8th as the release date for Bozanich.
Late Tuesday afternoon, 21 News was contacted again by the ODRC spokesman, who said he had since learned that a judge had refused to release Bozanich from transitional control and that he was due to complete his entire one-year sentence.
Below is a transcript of this statement:
I wanted to pursue this case.
Today we became aware that the judge actually refused to clear the transition control. The denial has been recorded on the public record, however, the DRC does not have a record of direct receipt of the denial as it normally does. After we know this information, the release of the transition control will be denied according to the court response. The Democratic Republic of the Congo turned to the court and notified them of this change. Mr Bozanich will serve the remainder of his sentence until 09/02/21, as originally ordered by the court.
Thank-you.
JoEllen Smith
On September 14, 2020, Bozanich was serving a one-year prison sentence imposed by Maureen Sweeney, a judge at Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, after Bozanich charged with bribery and record manipulation.
Bozanich and three other men were charged with corruption following an investigation that included allegations that the city of Youngstown was tricked into paying more than $ 90,000 for work that was not done on the Erie Terminal project.
Dominic Marchionda was given five years parole after pleading guilty to four offenses for tampering with records.
As a condition of an objection agreement, Marchionda had to break away from management responsibilities at Rubino Construction, Inc., Wick Properties, Erie Terminal Place and NYO Property Group.
Another local businessman, Ray Bryia, was paroled for three years and ordered to do 100 hours of community service for each of those three years.
Briya pleaded guilty to five offenses for offering or giving away valuables, including over $ 100,000 in cash, meals, gifts, and golf benefits over a decade to bribe former Youngstown Mayors Charles Sammarone and Bozanch.
Investigators say Briya also forged a bill with Marchionda and misrepresented the work that was ultimately billed to the city.
According to prosecutors, Briya stole more than $ 200,000 from his employer to fund the bribes.
Sammarone was given parole back in March after pleading guilty to tampering with records.
