Originally Posted - July 25, 2006

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TOLEDO---Former Toledo City Council Member-at- Large Robert A. McCloskey, 60, of 2137 Valentine Street, Toledo, Ohio, has been sentenced to a prison term of 27 months, a 3-year period of supervised release, a $200 special assessment and a $5,000 fine for his guilty plea to two counts of bribery in violation of the Hobbs Act.

McCloskey accepted a $3,000 bribe on March 22 from an unnamed Toledo businessman who was cooperating with the FBI. In return, McCloskey agreed to assist the businessman in obtaining city-owned land for development. McCloskey accepted a second $2,000 bribe from the same businessman on April 12. He took this bribe in return for agreeing to assist the businessman in obtaining a zoning change for the businessman's property.

The bribery scheme arose in mid-February when McCloskey told the businessman that he was under indictment in Lucas County for bribery and was interested in establishing a legal defense fund. In mid-March, the businessman, at the request of the FBI, told McCloskey he was interested in developing some land owned by the City of Toledo. Following a meeting about the proposed development, McCloskey asked the businessman to contribute to his defense fund. McCloskey stated that he understood he was not supposed to take money from the businessman because of matters the businessman had pending with the City of Toledo but he was willing to take it anyway. McCloskey told the businessman to donate in cash, and to deny the payment if anyone asked. McCloskey also suggested that the payment could be characterized as a loan, with the understanding that he would never have to pay back the money. McCloskey acknowledged he could go to jail if he took money from the businessman, so he stated he was not even going to tell his wife about it.

At the time McCloskey took the first bribe, he laughed about the fact that he was in a hurry because he had to attend an ethics seminar for Toledo public officials. At the seminar, with the $3,000 bribe still in his pocket, the Education Coordinator of the Ohio Ethics Commission gave a lecture entitled The Ohio Ethics Law at which she made clear that a public official may not accept something of value if it could pose a substantial and improper influence on the performance of his duties. 7-25-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette