Public Corruption Unit
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office has a dedicated Public Corruption Unit that investigates allegations of government fraud and corruption. The Public Corruption Unit is part of the Major Crimes Task Force. The Unit is comprised of Inspectors, Agents and Analysts with extensive experience investigating Public Corruption and complex fraud cases.
Public corruption, by definition, involves a corrupt scheme whereby a public official abuses their office for personal gain. Public officials include any individual elected to, appointed to or employed by a governmental entity. Public corruption undermines trust in government, destroys confidence in our elected and appointed government officials and deters economic investment and fair competition. Common examples of corruption include the following:
- Bribery: Making illegal payments or offering to make illegal payments to government officials to persuade them to discharge their official duties or assert their influence to obtain a competitive advantage or to seek favorable treatment.
- Kickbacks: Illegal compensation or secret payment to government officials for their influence over procurement activities, including the bidding and selection process.
- Embezzlement: The fraudulent appropriation of money or property entrusted to one’s care.
- Fraud: Deceitful of dishonest conduct with the intent to gain an unfair advantage.
