Federal prosecutors want former East Cleveland chief of staff Michael Smedley to spend more than eight years in federal prison, asking for a 97-month sentence after his conviction on corruption charges. Investigators say Smedley used the clout of his City Hall job to prop up a bogus investment scheme run by two local brothers, taking payments, expensive meals and Cleveland Browns tickets in return. Smedley, 57, has been in custody since his January conviction and is scheduled to be sentenced in May.
Prosecutors Seek 97-Month Term
In a sentencing memo filed this week, federal prosecutors wrote that “Smedley showed he was willing to sell out his community for his own personal gain” and urged U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent to hand down a 97-month prison term when sentencing rolls around in May, according to News 5 Cleveland. Prosecutors argued that a lengthy sentence is needed both to deter future public corruption and to send a clear message that officials who betray the public trust will pay a serious price.
How Investigators Say the Scheme Worked
According to prosecutors, brothers Zubair and Muzzamil Al Zubair pretended to be members of UAE royalty and leaned on Smedley’s position to look like big shots in East Cleveland politics. They staged a ceremonial contract signing at East Cleveland City Hall and gave Smedley the grand-sounding but fake title of “International Economic Advisor” to impress potential investors, as reported by The Plain Dealer. The brothers were convicted of wire-fraud conspiracy, theft of government funds, bribery and money laundering, and prosecutors say Smedley took tickets, meals and job offers in exchange for helping them, according to Yahoo.
Defense: Probation Would Not ‘Demean’ Sentencing
Smedley’s attorney, Charles Tyler, is pushing for no prison time at all. He asked the judge to place Smedley on community control instead of sending him to federal prison, arguing that “Placing Mr. Smedley on community control will not demean the purposes of sentencing, the protection of the public, promotion of respect for the law, and discouragement of crime,” News 5 Cleveland reported. Tyler described Smedley as a family man who has kept steady employment and sobriety, and noted that both Smedley and the Al Zubair brothers have been locked up since their January convictions.
What Happens Next
Sentencing is set for May before Judge Nugent, who will weigh the arguments from both sides along with federal sentencing factors and the advisory guidelines. The U.S. Sentencing Commission notes that those guidelines are just that – advisory – and judges can impose sentences outside the recommended range, so the final outcome might not match the government’s 97-month request. The case lands on top of a series of corruption probes that have rattled East Cleveland’s city government in recent years, a “dark patch” for the city’s leadership detailed by Ideastream Public Media.
