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Sentence for disgraced former auditor Frank Russo reduced by 8 years

Frank Russo
Posted at 4:13 PM, Feb 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-21 16:13:26-05

CLEVELAND — Frank Russo, the former Cuyahoga County auditor who caught up in a corruption probe in 2010, had his prison sentence reduced by eight years Thursday.

Russo was sentenced in December 2010 to spend 21 years and eight months in prison after taking a plea deal. Russo agreed to charges for "knowingly and willfully" ripping off taxpayers.

Before heading to prison in November 2012, he testified against Jimmy Dimora, a former Cuyahoga County commissioner who is also behind bars, following the largest corruption probe in county history.

Russo's sentence has been reduced to 14 years. Prosecutors and defense attorneys urged a sentence reduction because of Russo's substantial cooperation.

Russo was convicted of conspiracy, conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and tax evasion.