One of four men indicted on federal corruption charges has pled guilty. Former State Rep. Clayton Luckie entered his guilty plea to a single count of mail fraud, though his indictment under an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into alleged public corruption in the city of Dayton also included a felony count of wire fraud.
The investigation into the city’s handling of lucrative government contracts was revealed in April and has so far resulted in charges against four Dayton men, and officials say more charges are likely.
Clayton Luckie’s attorney Aaron Durden says his client’s case isn’t linked to the other indictments in the ongoing federal corruption probe.
"His case is disassociated with any of the other current cases, nor is it expected that he's to participate in anything else in the future. He had to stand for his own issues and we hope when the sentencing occurs it will be for his actions only and not associated with anyone else," Durden says.
This isn’t the former Democratic state representative’s first brush with the courts.
In early 2013, Luckie entered plea deals on nine felony and misdemeanor charges involving political corruption, misuse of campaign funds and theft in office.
Luckie wants to put the government’s current allegations of devising a fraudulent scheme to help disadvantaged businesses behind him, Durden says.
"He is industrious, he continues to work" he says. "He has recovered from his prior mishap and has restarted his life. And this seems to be a bump in the road. And we acknowledge that and that's why we saw an earlier resolution of this matter. Keep in mind this occurred three years ago."
In a statement, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Ben Glassman called Luckie’s plea, “another step in the legal process.”
Glassman declined to comment further on the department’s ongoing investigation.
Luckie was charged in late April. Also indicted were former City Commissioner Joey D. Williams, RoShawn Winburn with the city of Dayton’s Human Relations Council, and Dayton businessman Brian Higgins.
All three have entered pleas of not guilty.
For his part, Luckie faces up to 20 years behind bars. He remains free on bond until sentencing in November.
