The lobbyist who has been at the heart of an FBI investigation into allegations of a bribery scheme of Columbus public officials will spend the next 15 months in prison.
John Raphael was sentenced by a federal judge Wednesday. The prosecution was seeking a 37-month sentence.
Following his release from prison, Raphael will be on probation for one year. He will also pay a $5,000 fine.
Declining to speak to reporters, Raphael told Judge Michael Watson “I’m not taking one for the team.” Judge Watson replied he was “curious” why Raphael made that statement.
“I don't think disappointed is the right word. 15 months in federal prison, that's a real sentence. I do hope that people who think about pay to play schemes will realize that you're going to end up in federal prison,” added Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman.
The sentencing comes after Raphael pled guilty to interference with commerce – an extortion charge - in federal court in October. Court records show that he asked Redflex officials for campaign contributions that he said were needed to acquire and expand their contract with the city of Columbus. This charge carries as much as 20 years in prison, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.
Federal officials say $70,000 was funneled through Raphael, as well as state and county Democratic parties to the campaigns of several Columbus elected officials. The public officials and party officials have denied any knowledge of Raphael’s actions
According to federal documents, the bribes started in 2005 when Redflex obtained the sole contract with Columbus for red light enforcement. Redflex was the exclusive vendor of red light cameras in the city of Columbus. Federal court documents add that Redflex’s contract was extended in 2009 when more bribes were attempted and made. The contract was then expanded in 2010.
Raphael admitted his role in a conduit campaign donations. He used his friends and family to donate to the Ohio Democratic Party and elected officials in Columbus and Cincinnati, in violation of federal law.
In addition, two Redflex officials have also pled guilty to taking part in the bribes as well. Redflex Vice President Aaron Rosenberg pled guilty in February 2014 to conspiracy to commit bribery and a wire fraud charge. He was placed on probation and last year completed that probation.
Mike Miller commented on his own defense of client John Raphael, “You could have always done better. You could have ended up with probation, or ended up with what Rosenberg did: nothing. Again, 15 months. I can’t complain.”
Former Redflex Chief Executive Officer Karen Finley pled guilty in June to attempting to bribe Columbus public officials. She has not yet been sentenced in this case.
John Raphael is allowed to surrender himself into federal custody. Due to an upcoming surgery, Raphael is not expected to report to prison until August or later.
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HOW DID THIS BEGIN?
According to federal documents, the bribes started in 2005 when Redflex obtained the sole contract with Columbus for red light enforcement. Redflex was the exclusive vendor of red light cameras in the city of Columbus. Federal court documents add that Redflex’s contract was extended in 2009, when more bribes were attempted and made. The contract was expanded in 2010.
According to the charges in Finley’s case, a consultant – later identified as Raphael - recommended paying $30,000 to be “supportive” and “necessary” in Columbus. The consultant was used to pass these contributions along by creating false and fraudulent invoices.
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PAY-TO-PLAY
The attorney representing Finley, said his client said if you wanted to get the contract with Columbus you had to pay to play. Karen Finley's attorney Michael D. Kimerer said before she became the head of Redflex, it was company policy to use campaign contributions as a way to secure contracts.
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WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?
Several Columbus City Council members traveled to the 2014 Big Ten Championship, arranged by Raphael. He arranged for the football trip for four council members, including then-City Council President Andrew Ginther, now mayor. Other council members reported being on the same Dec. 31, 2014, trip include council members Shannon Hardin, Michelle Mills and Eileen Paley. They listed the trip as a gift on their campaign finance reports.
Mills resigned from her position as Columbus Council President Pro Tem shortly after an ethics investigation began.
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PROFIT OR SAFETY?
State lawmakers effectively banned red light cameras in 2015. They believed the cameras were about making money for cities and companies through fines. Columbus city leaders including Mayor Michael Coleman and Council President Andrew Ginther defended the red light cameras for saving lives. Documents obtained by 10 Investigates show how there was a lot of focus on money.
When attempting to convince Columbus not to switch vendors in 2009, Redflex said the risk of dumping them was a "huge opportunity cost for (the) city to risk upsetting a well-run and profitable program."
The city also fought to keep their share of the fine money high, saying they needed it to buy patrol cars and fund programs.
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FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF MEMOS
Memos obtained by 10 Investigates show a debate within City Hall and the Police Department about whether the Redflex contract was about money or about safety.
The first memo is from 2001. A Columbus Police traffic lieutenant tells former Chief James Jackson that red light cameras would just increase public feelings that enforcement is all about making money.
Deputy Public Safety Director Gary Holland agreed in his memos.
But by 2004, Redflex and other companies pitched Columbus. They convinced Columbus about how much money the city could make by placing red light cameras - using other cities as examples.
By 2005, Columbus was on the defensive, fighting against a House Bill that would ban red light cameras. City staff argued that cameras are about safety, not making money off tickets.
In a recent memo, a Columbus city law clerk told the deputy public safety director that the state is within its rights to ban red light cameras and efforts to fight that ban would likely fail.