East Cleveland mayor faces multiple charges, including theft

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (VOYO) – The mayor of East Cleveland is expected to be arraigned in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Friday morning.

Mayor Brandon L. King was scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 1, but the indictment was extended a week later.

On October 10, King was charged with multiple counts.

King faces charges including:

Two cases of theft in an office
Four counts of unlawful interest in a public contract
Four points of representation of a public official or employee
Filing a False Disclosure Claim
Claim for wrongful compensation

“Mayor Brandon King has demonstrated complete disregard and contempt for the rule of law,” said prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “The citizens of East Cleveland deserve better. The investigation is ongoing.”

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Mayor King authorized a government contract and payments through the city of East Cleveland to his own businesses and businesses owned by members of his family.

Mayor King also authorized the lease of office space in a Euclid Avenue building owned by King Management Group Limited to the East Cleveland Domestic Violence Department, according to prosecutors.

The rental cost was $14,184.21 per year.

From March 16, 2019 to February 22, 2022, East Cleveland also purchased $5,803.17 worth of cleaning supplies from American Merchandising Services.

King Management Group and American Merchandising Services are owned by Mayor King and members of his family, according to prosecutors.

Additionally, from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2022, Mayor King “improperly provided a City of East Cleveland vehicle to East Cleveland City Councilman Ernest Smith. “King also provided Smith with gas cards for the city of East Cleveland for the purchase of automobile fuel.”

While Councilman Smith owned the vehicle, he used gas cards to purchase $6,791 worth of gasoline at East Cleveland’s expense, according to prosecutors.

The investigation is being conducted by the Ohio State Auditor and Ohio Ethics Commission.

According to the prosecutor’s office:

Councilman Ernest Smith was also charged with the following charges:

Office theft
Two cases of theft
Claim for wrongful compensation
Misuse of credit cards