An Indian-American businessman from East Cleveland was charged for allegedly attempting to bribe a councilman to get support for a liquor license for his store, only to be turned over to the FBI for it.
Mukundkumar Patel, 52, was charged in a criminal information with one count of bribery in relations to programs receiving federal funds. If convicted, the sentence will be determined by the court according to Patel’s past record, an Aug. 21 release from the U.S. Justice Department said.
When Patel began renovating the former bar area of McCalls into a Convenient Food Mart which would sell beer and wine, he needed a liquor license and submitted the application which an endorsement by the city of East Cleveland. City officials told Patel they were not inclined to endorse his application but would consider his request after speaking with community stakeholders.
According to the information filed against him, Patel met with an East Cleveland councilman, identified in the charges only as Public Official 1, on Oct. 15 last year, and offered to pay $2,000 if the councilman would sign the application.
The councilman refused and Patel allegedly raised his offer to $3,000. When the councilman again refused, Patel reportedly told him to name his price, according to court papers filed.
The councilman contacted the FBI to report the bribe solicitation so that when Patel met him a few days later Oct. 23, and allegedly offered him $4,000 up front and $1,000 later in return for signing the beer and wine application, authorities were on to him.
The next day, Patel and the councilman met again and Patel paid him $4,000 in cash. The councilman turned the money over to the FBI, authorities said.
“This councilman acted as we expect all public officials would and immediately reported a bribe offer to the FBI, who did great work following up,” Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, is quoted saying in the release.
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