Posted February 25, 20205 yr No real details yet, but... Quote Cincinnati Council member Tamaya Dennard arrested on federal charges, sources tell WCPO CINCINNATI — According to two independent sources, WCPO 9 has confirmed that Cincinnati City Council member Tamaya Dennard has been arrested on federal charges. Dennard did not appear in a scheduled, Tuesday morning city council committee meeting of which she is the chair, but sources could not confirm when she was arrested. WCPO 9 also reached out to Dennard's attorney, Erik Laursen, for comment; Laursen said that he was unaware of Dennard's arrest. This is a developing story, WCPO will update when more information becomes available.
February 25, 20205 yr 53 minutes ago, taestell said: No real details yet, but... Did they mess up and arrest Denard instead of Cranley?
February 25, 20205 yr She's standing before a federal magistrate early this afternoon - sometime between 1-2pm, so we'll know more soon.
February 25, 20205 yr My best guess would be something to do with campaign finance, but I don't really know. I saw something a while back about her getting reimbursed from her campaign for something that might have been inappropriate? We'll have to wait to see for sure. I wouldn't be surprised if her inexperience led to some foul with the law and possibly some poor advice from someone on her campaign team.
February 25, 20205 yr Welp. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/cincinnati-city-council-president-charged-honest-services-wire-fraud-bribery-attempted Quote CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati City Council President Pro Tem has been arrested and charged federally with honest services wire fraud, bribery and attempted extortion. Tamaya Dennard, 40, appeared in federal court this afternoon. The charges pending against her were unsealed at that time. Dennard was elected to Cincinnati City Council in November 2017. According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, between August and December 2019, Dennard engaged in acts and attempted acts of bribery and extortion, attempting to exchange her votes for money. “As the affidavit details, a concerned citizen contacted law enforcement following an interaction with Dennard, feeling an ethical and moral obligation to report any criminal wrongdoing,” U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “The individual then worked at the direction of law enforcement throughout this investigation. It takes courage for citizens to come forward and assist law enforcement as this individual did.” Dennard allegedly requested between $10,000 and $15,000 from the individual to pay for her personal expenses. At the direction of and in coordination with FBI, the individual and Dennard exchanged a total of $15,000, in increments of $10,000 and $5,000, for upcoming votes on a matter scheduled to be heard by Council. Dennard deposited $10,000 in a personal bank account the same day she received it. After receiving the initial $10,000, Dennard requested the additional $5,000 in advance. Records indicate the same day she received the $5,000 in cash, Dennard booked two seats on a Sept. 22, 2019 flight from Cincinnati to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. On Sept. 27, 2019, she booked two return tickets. Financial records indicate Dennard spent more than $4,000 total on the Florida trip to include accommodations at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater, Fla. and the airfare. Dennard allegedly continued to reach out to the individual asking for money on various occasions in October and November 2019. Text messages from Dennard to the individual during that time include “Happy to help you. But need yours too”; and “As I said, I’m sure there will be ways to help you as well and I will.” Dennard is charged with one count each of honest services wire fraud (up to 20 years in prison), bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds (up to 10 years in prison) and attempted extortion under color of right (up to 20 years in prison). David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Singer are representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
February 25, 20205 yr I’m not saying it’s related, but when reading this it immediately made me think of this convention center hotel project, there is something very shady going on with it as well. I hope the right people are watching(FBI).
February 25, 20205 yr Maybe Tamaya can just use the playbook POTUS used. Just repeat and tweet a million times over..."No quid pro quo" Continually claim its a witch hunt, and state that even if it was illegal, shes a council person...she's allowed to do these things.
February 25, 20205 yr Was also one of the five council members under investigation by a special prosecutor for the illegal texting (dereliction of duty); failed to list debts on her financial disclosure form required under Ohio law; facing an Ohio Elections complaint for taking consulting fees from her campaign finance account; and being evicted from the Baldwin Building where she's lived since September.
February 25, 20205 yr 35 minutes ago, 646empire said: I’m not saying it’s related, but when reading this it immediately made me think of this convention center hotel project, there is something very shady going on with it as well. I hope the right people are watching(FBI). I doubt it. These things usually do not involve big conspiracies. It's usually one person going rogue and inevitably getting caught. She should've known this wasn't going to work.
February 25, 20205 yr Just now, Jimmy Skinner said: If the bribe happened as described, it was so blatant and unsophisticated. That pretty much sums up her time on council I'd say. She always seemed inexperienced and out of her depth, but this is beyond her not knowing better, this is just bad.
February 25, 20205 yr I obviously did not see eye to eye with her politically but did meet here a few times. Overall, she struck me as a bit over her head on the job, and really did not understand all the rules and protocols of an elected official. However, I will say, she was always very nice, and I got a sense that she was truly trying to learn and listen and understand different point of views on subjects. She was not a close minded individual and was trying to work toward educating herself on various sides of the issues.
February 25, 20205 yr Dennard has been a complete embarrassment since she got elected to council. I'm sure she'll try to bring race into this like she does with everything else. Illegally spending 4k to go to Clearwater, FL is just laughably dumb.
February 25, 20205 yr 58 minutes ago, Jimmy Skinner said: If the bribe happened as described, it was so blatant and unsophisticated. $10,000 - just like Austin Powers. Ten...THOUsand Dollars...mwuh-mwuh-mwuhaaaaa!
February 25, 20205 yr 1 minute ago, jmecklenborg said: $10,000 - just like Austin Powers. Ten...THOUsand Dollars...mwuh-mwuh-mwuhaaaaa! And it's sad anyone would think that's enough money worth going to jail over.
February 25, 20205 yr I was reading the report and it said "consensually recorded phone call", does that mean she knew she was being wired? It almost seems like she didn't think she was being unlawful! Then, she took a trip to Florida. Honestly, some people have no perception at all about money, she could have just been completely and utterly over her head, entirely plausible.
February 25, 20205 yr 3 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said: I was reading the report and it said "consensually recorded phone call", does that mean she knew she was being wired? It almost seems like she didn't think she was being unlawful! Then, she took a trip to Florida. Honestly, some people have no perception at all about money, she could have just been completely and utterly over her head, entirely plausible. In Ohio, only one party needs to consent...so the report is inducing some pragmatic inference with that.
February 25, 20205 yr 7 minutes ago, IAGuy39 said: I was reading the report and it said "consensually recorded phone call", does that mean she knew she was being wired? It almost seems like she didn't think she was being unlawful! Then, she took a trip to Florida. Honestly, some people have no perception at all about money, she could have just been completely and utterly over her head, entirely plausible. As long as one side knows the conversation is being recorded, that is all that matters. It would not be admissible if the lines were being bugged (w/o a warrant) and neither party had an expectation that someone was listening. Some states, I believe CA being one of them, requires 2 party consent.
February 25, 20205 yr Author Does anyone have any idea what vote she may have sold for $15,000? One of the charges was "bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds" so maybe it was approval of some development that was going to receive HUD funding?
February 25, 20205 yr 21 minutes ago, taestell said: Does anyone have any idea what vote she may have sold for $15,000? One of the charges was "bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds" so maybe it was approval of some development that was going to receive HUD funding? It involves The Banks Concert Venue..... https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/02/25/fbi-dennard-s-alleged-crimes-involve-banks-project.html?iana=hpmvp_cinci_news_headline
February 25, 20205 yr And there were more text messages for this scheme. You would think she would have learned to at least not use text messages for city stuff even if she thought it was above board.
February 26, 20205 yr “You seem genuinely interested in helping me and I genuinely need help. The tone of our conversation was hopeful. This text is dry and it feels as if something is stopping you. Is it my politics? I don’t have any other avenues." [...] "I called because I literally am out of options. Can you please tell me why people won’t help? What I need to get my head above water is a pittance to many who are able. I have $200 in my account. I got into a rough spot trying to help my mom and now I have nothing.” [...] “If you are willing to meet with me, I’m sure that I will be able to help you.” [...] After that, CHS contacted the FBI and recorded an in-person conversation with Dennard on Sept. 5 in which Dennard asked for $10,000 to put a deposit down on a car and an apartment. -- Dennard was being evicted from a pretty swanky place, but it seemed that whatever money she did receive wasn't used to pay rent owed but to make trips to Florida. And who needs $10,000 to put a deposit down on a (new) car and an apartment? Usually, if the Feds charge you with white collar crimes, they have your goose cooked. This won't end well for her for what? Personal gains under $10,000 that she could receive a 20+ year sentence for?
February 26, 20205 yr 4 hours ago, seicer said: Dennard was being evicted from a pretty swanky place, but it seemed that whatever money she did receive wasn't used to pay rent owed but to make trips to Florida. And who needs $10,000 to put a deposit down on a (new) car and an apartment? Usually, if the Feds charge you with white collar crimes, they have your goose cooked. This won't end well for her for what? Personal gains under $10,000 that she could receive a 20+ year sentence for? Yeah, she was probably buying drugs. She has been professionally employed for years but somehow had no money.
February 26, 20205 yr 2 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said: Yeah, she was probably buying drugs. She has been professionally employed for years but somehow had no money. This is outrageous and you should be ashamed. You have no idea what her circumstances are but jump to drugs? Possibly she was just living above her means? This was almost not worth responding to its so completely out of line.
February 26, 20205 yr So I get all this that she had to help out her mom and was in trouble financially, and maybe got into a bad situation with her lease or car or whatever. But the thing that gets me is then why did she take a trip to Florida? See that's what makes this thing so bad and blatant. Trust me I've seen a lot of people be really, really stupid with their money, things like needing money because they are short on rent then going and buying beer and cigs or something, but not taking a freaking resort style vacation. Plus they had $20k+ extra deposits on top of that from unknown sources during that time meaning she could have possibly taken bribes (though it could also be just people helping her). Maybe then you could say she needed every bit of that $20k+ Plus $15k plus her salary to help her mom out and to get a new apartment, but I would hope when it's an elected official that: 1.) You wouldn't take a resort style vacation to Florida 2.) You would take the bus or figure out how to get around with friends or Uber or something until you saved up cash or whatever for a car 3.) You would get out the lease amicably or somehow someway then get into a more affordable place to stay
February 26, 20205 yr 41 minutes ago, brian korte said: This is outrageous and you should be ashamed. You have no idea what her circumstances are but jump to drugs? Possibly she was just living above her means? This was almost not worth responding to its so completely out of line. Too bad. I'm the exact same age as her and have worked 7 days a week for 11 years since my 2009 layoff to get on a firm financial footing. I have lived with roommates or rented out rooms in the house I own. Meanwhile she was renting at a very expensive apartment building. She has been professionally employed for many years and has no excuse for being broke.
February 26, 20205 yr 5 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said: Too bad. I'm the exact same age as her and have worked 7 days a week for 11 years since my 2009 layoff to get on a firm financial footing. I have lived with roommates or rented out rooms in the house I own. Meanwhile she was renting at a very expensive apartment building. She has been professionally employed for many years and has no excuse for being broke. This has zero to do with you suggesting she was buying drugs and how awful of a person you are to even go there.
February 26, 20205 yr 2 hours ago, jmecklenborg said: Yeah, she was probably buying drugs. She has been professionally employed for years but somehow had no money. This is unreasonable speculation Jake. Cut it out. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
February 26, 20205 yr From The Enquirer's editorial: Quote Dennard hasn't been all-in at City Hall for a while. Whatever is going on in her life has kept her from doing her job on council, and now it might very well make her a criminal. Is she hoarding beanie babies?
March 2, 20205 yr Feds clear way for Deters, attorney general to force out Dennard, prosecutor says Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and Ohio Attorney General David Yost plan to try to suspend Cincinnati Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard from office, Deters said Sunday, and federal prosecutors have endorsed the idea. Dennard faces federal corruption charges after being arrested on Tuesday by the FBI. The U.S. attorney alleges that Dennard sold her council votes on a matter related to the Banks project in exchange for $15,000 from Tom Gabelman, the county’s legal adviser on the Banks who was cooperating with the FBI and wore a wire to record conversations with Dennard. Dennard has pleaded not guilty to the charges. “She can go the easy way or the hard way,” Deters said. “This is not Cincinnati. That’s not the way we are. The evidence here is overwhelming and she needs to get out.” More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/03/01/feds-clear-way-for-deters-attorney-general-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 3, 20205 yr Dennard resigns from City Council Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard, who is facing federal corruption charges, has resigned from Cincinnati City Council, according to a statement released by her law firm. "The last thing I want is to be a distraction from the work that needs to be done for this city," Dennard said. "My main focus has been the people I serve. I need all of my time and energy to address these charges against me." Dennard was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday and charged with bribery, attempted extortion and honest services fraud by the U.S. attorney. According to an FBI agent's affidavit, Dennard allegedly sold her vote on a Banks-related project for $15,000. Dennard has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Dennard has designated Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, a fellow Democrat, to select her replacement. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/03/02/dennard-resigns-from-city-council.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 3, 20205 yr Author It's an odd coincidence that we're having two Council members leave in early 2020. The appointed replacements will get to serve almost two full years on Council, setting them up for an easy re-election in November 2021, since name recognition is such a big deal in this city. If Murray or Dennard would have resigned prior to the midpoint of their four-year terms (November 2019), there would have been a special election to replace them instead of having a peer of their choice appointing a replacement. (Murray may have timed her departure to take advantage of this fact, but obviously Dennard didn't since her resignation was not planned in advance.)
March 3, 20205 yr I expect more council members to step aside in the final year to 6 months of their term for exactly this reason. Already announced resignations include: Amy Murray Tamaya Dennard Term limited council members include: PG Sittenfeld* David Mann* Chris Seelbach Wendell Young Christopher Smitherman Eligible to run again in 2021 Jeff Pastor Greg Landsman Council is going to look completely different in 2021.
March 3, 20205 yr I'm curious who PG will select to replace Dennard and what process will be carried out. The obvious first step is to look at people who ran in 2017 and speculate on those he aligns with. The Republicans didn't choose someone who ran in 2017 to replace Murray, so we don't really know if this is the short list or not. Those potential candidates would be: Michelle Dillingham Ozie Davis Lesley Jones Laure Quinlivan Derek Bauman
March 3, 20205 yr Hopefully not Dillingham. She is a nut. Ozie Davis would be reasonable. In the event that she loses, I would LOVE to see Alecia Reese back on council. Otherwise, she would be a great commissioner.
March 3, 20205 yr Ozie is a terrible choice. If you can't successfully organize to collect signatures to get on the ballot for school board then I don't want you making policy decisions for the city. PG wont select Alicia if she loses the primary because she'd be a threat to him as a Mayoral candidate. I do expect PG to select a woman and maybe a black woman.
March 3, 20205 yr Ozie Davis couldn't even get the signatures to stay on the school board ballot. My guess would be Lesley Jones, though I like the Alecia Reese idea. I just can't imagine PG picking a white male like Bauman even though I'd LOVE to see him on council
March 3, 20205 yr 2 hospitalized when stolen car crashes into East Walnut Hills house Quote The incident remains under investigation, but police said they determined the vehicle belongs to Tamaya Dennard. The car was reported stolen last month to District 4 police, police have told us.
March 3, 20205 yr The Enquirer article has more on the driver/passenger background: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/crime-and-courts/2020/03/03/police-tamaya-dennards-car-reported-stolen-crashed/4937564002/ "Simpson was cited for failing to maintain reasonable control. He has prior convictions for aggravated burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and cocaine trafficking, according to court records. The records also show Squire has multiple prior convictions for cocaine possession. Neither man has been charged in the theft of the car belonging to Dennard's mother." How is it that neither were charged in the theft? Because it wasn't? "Police records show that Dennard reported the car stolen on Feb. 13. She said the car was taken without her permission from a parking garage at her residence. The records do not describe how the car was taken." Edited March 3, 20205 yr by seicer
March 11, 20205 yr Sittenfeld to name Dennard replacement Quote Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, an attorney, realtor and publisher of the Cincinnati Herald, is expected to be named Wednesday to replace former Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard on the Cincinnati City Council, according to sources and an email obtained by the Business Courier. Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who was designated by Dennard to name her replacement, has scheduled a 4:30 p.m. announcement today in Avondale. Sittenfeld did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment. Lemon Kearney grew up in Avondale and graduated from Walnut Hills High School, Dartmouth University and Harvard University, where she got her J.D. She worked for five years at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister. She also obtained a real estate license and worked as a Realtor, taking over the Herald when her husband, Eric Kearney, became a state senator in 2005. Lemon Kearney is expected to run for a full term on council in 2021.
March 11, 20205 yr ^ A wise choice. Much better than someone like Dillingham who would not be a conducive member of council. Kearney is someone who understands how to work with the business community and can ensure the city will prosper.
March 11, 20205 yr Looks like Denard might have been bribed into proposing the use of $500k for a "Freeman District" in the West End: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/tamaya-dennards-arrest-indictment-could-endanger-plans-for-black-owned-business-district
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