reality-based educator

The Ohio Coingate scandal is back in the news:

Noe indicted in coin scandal
53 felony counts carry possible sentence of 175 years in prison

By Mark Niquette
The Columbus Dispatch
Monday, February 13, 2006 2:40 PM
TOLEDO -- Thomas W. Noe, the coin dealer and prominent Republican contributor whose $50 million state coin investment sparked one of the biggest scandals in Ohio state government history, was indicted today on 53 felonies, including theft of more than $1 million.

The charges include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, 11 counts of theft, 11 of money laundering, 8 of tampering with records and 22 of forgery. He could be sentenced to a maximum 175 years in prison, although such a sentence is considered unlikely.

However, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said Noe faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years behind bars if he is convicted of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony patterned after the federal racketeering law often used against suspected mobsters.

Also indicted in the scheme was Timothy H. LaPointe, Noe's partner in the coin business, who was named in seven counts. He was charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt acitivity and six counts of tampering with records, said the indictment filed in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Noe, through lawyer Jon Richardson, pled not guilty to all charges during an arraignment this morning before Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas J. Osowik.

The judge set bond at $500,000, which Noe's lawyer said Noe will post. Richardson asked for a lesser bond, but the judge declined because of the number of charges involved.

Noe faced 175 years in prison.

Wow.

I bet if the prosecutors are looking to get information from Noe about others in the criminal conspiracy, he might be pretty open to making a deal.

I mean, considering he's facing 175 years in prison and all.

I wonder who in the Ohio GOP is sweating tonight?