Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested Cincinnati city councilwoman Tamaya Dennard on charges of corruption and extortion. She faces up to 50 years in jail.
The Cincinnati Enquirer obtained a federal affidavit detailing the charges, which include bribery, attempted extortion, and wire fraud.
National Review writes that Dennard asked for money from a developer looking to build a music venue on the Cincinnati waterfront.
Federal authorities said “a concerned citizen” who works for a law firm contacted law enforcement and worked with the FBI to investigate Dennard after she repeatedly asked for thousands of dollars for personal expenses in exchange for voting for the land deal — $10,000-$15,000.
“It’s more of like trying to get a car,” she said, ” … money for a new place to live and then just a little bit of breathing room.”
Federal investigators said she quickly spent more than $4,000 on a Florida trip.
The unnamed source said Dennard sent text messages back and forth negotiating the land swap, which detailed the evidence of the councilwoman’s crimes, based on Enquirer reporting.
The source once asked, “You’re good with supporting Hilltop’s proposal to do the land swap?”
“Mmm-hmm. Yes,” Dennard replied.
On Sept. 9, according to the affidavit, the unnamed source at the direction of the FBI accepted a $10,000 check from Dennard — the unnamed source then said he would pay $5,000 after the vote took place, according to Enquirer.
“That’s a cashier’s check,” the source said, referring to the $10,000.
“Thank you … I’m going right to the bank on this,” she replied.
Federal authorities had been watching the exchange the entire time.
“Dennard engaged in a scheme to defraud the citizens of Cincinnati of her honest services as a council member,” FBI agent Nathan Holbrook said in the affidavit. “She engaged in acts and attempted acts of bribery and extortion, attempting to exchange her votes for money.”
Dennard, 40, was released Tuesday afternoon pending a March 16 hearing.
U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said Dennard, if convicted, faces up to 20 years each in prison on counts of wire fraud and attempted extortion, and up to 10 years on a bribery charge.
Dennard’s attorney, Erik Laursen, said she is innocent until proven guilty, and that she was surprised when arrested Tuesday on her way to a Starbucks.
The Associated Press contributed to this article