Ex-Ohio Official Pleads Guilty to Charges

June 7, 2006
Ex-Ohio Official Pleads Guilty to Charges

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former top official at the Ohio workers' compensation fund pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking kickbacks from brokers and others who wanted to handle the fund's investments.

Terrence Gasper, the former chief financial officer, was charged in a scandal that has shaken the state's Republican-dominated government and led to ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest to failing to report gifts.

Gasper, 59, pleaded guilty in federal court in Akron to racketeering and in state court to laundering money and failing to report gifts. He could get up to seven years and three months in the federal case and up to 5 1/2 years in state prison. But his sentencing was put off until he is through assisting the government investigation.

Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said he expects more people to be charged this month. Gasper said he was "more than willing" to help prosecutors.

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