East Cleveland mayor and councilman enter pleas on corruption charges

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – The mayor of East Cleveland and a city council member both appeared in court Friday to face charges on corruption charges.

The FOX 8 I-Team was the report first that Mayor Brandon King and East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith were indicted in early October.

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The corruption charges against King include two counts of theft in office, four counts of having an unlawful interest in a government contract, four counts of representation by a public official or employee, one count of filing a false disclosure statement and one count of soliciting for improper compensation.

According to prosecutors, between January 1, 2019 and October 2, 2024, King “authorized a government contract and payments through the city of East Cleveland to companies owned by King and his family members.”

Prosecutors said he authorized office space in a building owned by King Management Group Limited to be rented to the city’s domestic violence unit for more than $14,100 a year.

According to prosecutors, between March 16, 2019 and February 22, 2022, the city of East Cleveland purchased more than $5,800 worth of cleaning supplies from American Merchandising Service, which is also owned by King.

Additionally, prosecutors allege that King improperly provided a city car to former East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2022.

King also provided Smith with gas cards from the city of East Cleveland to purchase auto fuel. While Smith had the vehicle, he used two gas cards to purchase $6,791 in gasoline at the expense of the city of East Cleveland,” prosecutors said in the news release.

Smith was indicted on several charges, including one charge of theft in office, two charges of theft, one charge of soliciting improper compensation and one charge of credit card misuse.

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“Mayor Brandon King has demonstrated a complete disregard and disregard for the rule of law,” prosecutor Michael O’Malley is quoted in a news release. “The citizens of East Cleveland deserve better. The investigation continues.”

Mayor King entered a plea in court Friday and was granted a $5,000 bond.

Smith also entered a not guilty plea and was given a $5,000 bond.

Their next court date has not yet been set.

This comes months after prosecutors charged several East Cleveland police officers on a wide range of corruption-related charges.

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