FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2000
Contact: Chris Watney (202) 514-2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888
FORMER DAYTON, OHIO, CENSUS OFFICIAL INDICTED FOR FRAUD
Community Outreach Official Charged with Accepting Bribes
in Connection with Census 2000 Campaign Work
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A former official with the Dayton, Ohio, Office of the Bureau of the Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, was indicted today by a federal grand jury here on charges of wire fraud and bribery. Isaiah O. Adegbile, a 68-year old former Community Partnership Specialist with the Census, worked in community outreach and promotion of the Census 2000 campaign. He was authorized to purchase promotional goods for the Census 2000 campaign such as T-shirts, rulers, mugs, and other items from local vendors. The indictment charges that Adegbile misused his Census position to solicit and receive at least $1,750 in secret cash payments from four Dayton vendors in exchange for favorable treatment in purchasing promotional goods from those vendors. The six-count indictment, returned in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, charged Adegbile with one count of wire fraud and five counts of bribery. Wire fraud offenses carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The offense of bribery carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. As in any criminal case, an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecution is being handled by the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Sharon J. Zealey's Office. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Dayton, Ohio Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Commerce. ###
00-604
