Wednesday, July 14, 1999
Ohio sheriff is convicted in mob-link case
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — A jury Tuesday convicted Mahoning County Sheriff Philip A. Chance on all counts in a racketeering and extortion trial based on charges he took $65,000 in payoffs from a Youngstown mob boss.
Sheriff Chance, 49, was tried before U.S. District Judge Kathleen O'Malley on charges of racketeering, extortion, obstructing law enforcement and two conspiracy counts. The most serious charge, racketeering, carries a possible 20-year sentence.
The jury deliberated about five hours. Sheriff Chance was passive as the first verdict was read, but closed his eyes as some of his supporters in the courtroom gallery started sobbing.
He was released pending sentencing Oct. 7. Sheriff Chance hasn't decided whether to appeal.
“I just can't believe it,” he said outside court. “I'm still stunned.”
Prosecutors said Sheriff Chance went from being a long-shot candidate for sheriff in his eastern Ohio county in 1996 to the winner of the election by accepting money from Youngstown mob boss Lenine Strollo.
Sheriff Chance said he will now resign from his post. “I wish it didn't have to end this way,” he said.
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