A former deputy clerk from the City of East Cleveland Municipal Court has been handed down a sentence after admitting to siphoning funds meant for the court. Orlando Chappell, who is 61, was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $37,931.47 in restitution. Chappell's guilty plea for Federal Program Theft came in August 2025, and his sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams.
During the period from 2012 until 2023, Chappell was entrusted to tangibly support the court's operations. He is described as having been responsible for the collection of various fines and fees. Landlords looking to initiate eviction proceedings were required to pay these fees, which Chappell was supposed to dutifully record into the court's financial system. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Chappell admitted "to not recording the transactions, and instead embezzled the cash fees he collected."
The case against Chappell was investigated by the FBI's Cleveland Division. Given that the City of East Cleveland must be recognized as a beneficiary of federal grants and aid during his tenure, Chappell's crime put him within the jurisdiction of federal law. The ledger of justice has now been aligned, albeit partially, with the imposition of his sentence and restitution order.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Brydle, representing the Northern District of Ohio, prosecuted the case. The restitution Chappell has been ordered to pay amounts to exactly the total he was accused of embezzling, $37,931.47. The penalty reflects the gravity of violating the public’s trust, particularly as it pertains to the handling of its resources.
