Corruption Probe

Solon Resident Charged in Cuyahoga County Corruption Probe


February 25, 2010 - William J. Edwards, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; C. Frank Figliuzzi, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI; and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, today announced that a one-count Information was filed charging Nicholas A. Zavarella, age 59, of Solon, Ohio, in connection with the Cuyahoga County public corruption investigation.

The Information charges Zavarella with participating in a bribery conspiracy that involved Zavarella providing masonry work valued at approximately $25,000 over a period of six years on the residence of PO1 in part because of PO1’s official position and with the expectation that PO1 would be willing to perform official acts for Defendant’s benefit when specific opportunities arose. The information charges that PO1 helped a relative of Zavarella obtain a County job and two teaching jobs. In addition, PO1 made inquiries on a County construction job in which Zavarella expected to obtain a subcontract.