Northeast Ohio Businessman Sentenced For Bribing City Officials

CLEVELAND — A Northeast Ohio business owner has been sentenced to prison for bribing Cleveland city workers.

Eric Witherspoon, 56, from Warrensville Heights, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to bribery in federally funded programs. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

“Public contracts should go to the most qualified, not the best connected,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Public officials, contractors, or anyone else who misuses or improperly handless public funds can expect to find themselves in a similar position, that is to say, facing federal prison time.”

Witherspoon ran an asbestos removal company based in Cleveland, court documents said. To get work, Witherspoon submitted contract bids to the city of Cleveland for a variety of projects.

Some of Witherspoon's bids went to Rufus Taylor, the then- chief of Cleveland's demolition bureau. He was responsible for selecting contractors, assigning emergency demolition jobs and recommended contractors to other city officials.

Taylor has pleaded guilty to receiving bribes.

Prosecutors argued that Witherspoon and Taylor met at restaurants, job sites and in parked cars to "discuss" upcoming jobs. Witherspoon would give Taylor cash and Taylor would give Witherspoon confidential information about demolition jobs.

In November 2013, Witherspoon received a contract from Cleveland officials and then paid Taylor $3,000, court documents said.

In 2017, Witherspoon and Taylor were recorded in a parked car discussing their "mutually beneficial" relationship, prosecutors argued. Now Witherspoon has been sentenced to prison.

“This sentencing represents our continuing resolve to root out fraud and corruption in all forms, particularly when the programs involved should have been used to help our neediest families,” said HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Brad Geary. “It is our continuing core mission to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of our housing programs and to take strong action against those who seek to illegally benefit from them.”

Taylor pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery in 2018. He has not yet been sentenced.