More charges in ODOT District 12 corruption probe

CLEVELAND -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason filed more charges today (Tuesday) in the corruption probe into the Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 offices in Garfield Heights. He charged three former ODOT officials and five ODOT vendors.

They were indicted on corruption charges for allegedly using a wide-variety of tactics to illegally steer ODOT contracts and business to friends and associates from 2000 to 2007.

Dennis L. Kratochvil, 65, of Chagrin Falls, was indicted on 26 felony charges: 1 count of racketeering; 5 counts of bribery; 1 count of theft in office; 3 counts of obstructing justice; and 16 counts of tampering with records.

Kratochvil was the District 12 Facilities Manager.

ODOT District 12 Storekeeper Kevin M. Horrigan, 42, of Northfield Center, was indicted on 7 felony charges: 2 counts of bribery; 1 count of theft in office; 3 counts of attempted tampering with records; and 1 count of unlawful interest in a public contract.

ODOT District 12 Equipment Superintendent Terrence M. Kosmata, 56, of Garfield Heights, was indicted on 3 felony charges: 1 count of bribery; 1 count of attempted bribery; and 1 count of theft in office.

The following five ODOT vendors were indicted on similar charges.

Kent L. Winter, 54, of Willoughby, owner of Winter Equipment, Co., in Willoughby was indicted on 15 felony charges: 1 count of racketeering;3 counts of bribery; and 11 counts of tampering with records.

Robert E. Jones, Jr., 48, of Painesville, owner of Lake Truck Sale & Services Inc., Jones Equipment Co., and principle for JEL Idealease, in Painsville, was indicted on 11 felony charges: 1 count of racketeering; 2 counts of bribery; 6 counts of tampering with records; 1 count of forgery; and 1 count of theft by deception.

Philip C. Marek, 41, of Aurora, President of Nozzle New Inc., and owner of Marek Land Company, in Solon, was indicted on 5 felony charges: 2 counts of bribery and 3 counts of attempted tampering with records.

James Patrick Hartory II, 38, of Chardon, CEO, Traditional Building Systems, Knight Mechanical Inc., and All-Controls Corp., in Mentor, was indicted on 3 felony charges: 1 count of bribery; 1 count of attempted bribery; and 1 count of attempted tampering with records.

Dennis B. Kratochvil, 46, of Chesterland, owner of DeBord Plumbing and Heating Co., in Chardon, was indicted on 11 felony charges: 1 count of racketeering; 5 counts of tampering with records; and 5 counts of theft by deception.

He is the son of Dennis L. Kratochvil.

Three former ODOT officials and six vendors have been previously charged and sentenced for their role in this corruption.

The center of this criminal activity was ODOT's District 12 headquarters located in Garfield Heights.

The Ohio Inspector General's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.