Contractor sentencing hearing in Ohio in 2nd week

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AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- A sentencing hearing is entering its second week in the public corruption case against a northeast Ohio contractor.

Prosecutors have used the Akron federal court hearing resuming Monday morning to detail the extent of Michael Forlani's crimes. He pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges involving county government in Cleveland.

One bribe target was former Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. The former county Democratic chairman was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

The Forlani sentencing could be one of the final chapters in a five-year FBI probe which led to 60 convictions and 40 people sent to prison.

Wayne State law professor Peter Henning tells The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer (bit.ly/13uBTtX) the investigation disclosed corruption similar to old-style Tammany Hall in New York.

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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com