OHIO
A Summit County councilwoman was indicted for taking bribes and other things of value in exchange for helping with court cases, impeding a pending IRS investigation and helping get a liquor license, officials said.
Tamela Lee, 57, of Akron, was named in an 11-count indictment: conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, honest services mail fraud, Hobbs Act conspiracy, violating the Hobbs Act, obstruction of justice and making false statements to law enforcement.
“The charges in this case are extremely serious, because our public officials owe the community the highest level of integrity and honesty,” U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach said. “Working with the FBI, we will continue to pursue corruption allegations so that the public can trust its elected officials.”
“Ms. Lee and the three other defendants must be held accountable for their crimes,” FBI Special Agent Stephen Anthony said. “She was supposed to lawfully represent the people that elected her, but rather, was motivated by her own self interests. The FBI will continue to root out public corruption, whether it is elected officials that violate their oath and the law or citizens that bribe them to do so.”
Three others were also indicted.
Omar Abdelqader, 49, of North Canton, was indicted on seven counts: conspiracy to commit honest services mail and wire fraud, honest services mail fraud, Hobbs Act conspiracy, violating the Hobbs Act, obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to law enforcement.
Abdelrahman Abdelqader, 42, of Canton, was indicted on two counts: obstruction of justice and making false statements to law enforcement.
Samir Abdelqader, 19, of Fairlawn, was indicted on one count of making false statements to law enforcement.
Omar Abdelqader was affiliated with several convenience stores and other businesses in the Akron area, including the Bi-Rite on Diagnonal Road.
Abdelrahman Abdelqader is his brother and Samir Abdelqader is his nephew, according to the indictment.
Lee solicited and accepted things from Omar Abdelqader, including money, loans, campaign contributions, home improvements, home maintenance and consumer goods.
These were provided directly by Omar Abdelqader, or through Bi-Rite, according to the indictment.
In return, Lee performed and promised to perform official acts for Omar Abdelqader and other businesses in Akron for which he served as a conduit to Lee.
These actions included helping Omar Abdelqader and his designees navigate government bureaucracy, achieve favorable outcomes in judicial and administrative proceedings and obtain streamlined access to information, according to the indictment.
For example, on July 5, 2013, Lee caused to be sent a letter to the State of Ohio Liquor Control Commission on behalf of Person 7’s store, recommending approval of a liquor license application.
On June 8, 2014, Omar and Samir Abdelqader discussed Samir obtaining a bond regarding criminal charges he was facing, according to the indictment.
About 40 minutes later, Omar and Lee discussed the councilwoman e-mailing or calling the judge. On June 12, Lee called the judge’s chambers several times.
The next day Lee asked Omar for money, and he directed her to the Bi-Rite to collect the money, according to the indictment.
On June 14, 2014, Lee sent a text message to Omar informing him that the judge and bailiff returned her call. She then sent a text message to Omar stating: “I am going to bed, I am angry and frustrated and broke…bye,” according to the indictment.
Later that day, Omar instructed Lee to send her daughter to the Bi-Rite to pick up cash.
Three days later, Lee spoke to the judge and told the judge she was related to Samir Abdelqader, according to the indictment.
In July 2014, Lee and Omar spoke repeatedly about fundraising for her campaign. Omar told Person 9 that he had collected $800 in donations for Lee.
Omar explained the Lee provided service. “In other words, I am keeping her because we need her, man,” Omar told Person 9, who responded: “She is better than an attorney to us!” according to the indictment.