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Date: 03-09-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Larry Householder, et al.
Case Number: 1:20-cr-00077
Judge: Timothy S. Black
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (Hamilton County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney's Office in Cincinnati
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Cincinnati, Ohio criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with participating in a racketeering conspiracy.
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, age 63, of Glenford, Ohio and former Ohio Republican Party chair Matthew Borges, age 50, of Bexley, Ohio both allegedly betrayed the people of Ohio by selling the statehouse of Ohio.
From March 2017 to March 2020, the enterprise traded millions of dollars in bribery campaign donations in exchange for Householder’s and the enterprise’s help in passing House Bill 6. The defendants then also worked to corruptly ensure that HB 6 went into effect by defeating a ballot initiative to overturn the legislation.
In March 2017, Householder began receiving quarterly $250,000 payments from the related-energy companies into the bank account of his 501(c)(4), Generation Now. Team Householder spent millions of the company’s dollars to support Householder’s political bid to become Speaker, to support House candidates they believed would back Householder, and for their own personal benefit.
The United States detailed that Householder spent more than half a million dollars of the dark money to pay off his credit card balances, repair his Florida home and settle a business lawsuit.
Borges used approximately $366,000 for his personal benefit.
Borges was budgeted $25,000 to bribe an Ohio Republican operative to try to save House Bill 6. Borges gave the man a $15,000 check in exchange for information on the number of signatures collected on the anti-House Bill 6 ballot referendum.
Householder’s longtime campaign and political strategist, Jeffrey Longstreth, and lobbyist Juan Cespedes, both of Columbus, Ohio, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy. FirstEnergy Corp. signed a deferred prosecution settlement in July 2021, agreeing to pay a $230 million penalty for conspiring to bribe public officials and others.
The racketeering conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced today’s verdict. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer, Megan Gaffney Painter and Timothy S. Mangan represented the United States in this case.
Outcome: 03/09/2023 237 TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings (Day 23 of jury trial) as to Larry Householder, Matthew Borges held on March 6, 2023 before Judge Timothy S. Black. Court Reporter/Transcriber: Mary Schweinhagen, Telephone number 937-512-1604/mary_schweinhagen@ohsd.uscourts.gov. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through PACER.
NOTICE RE: REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: Within 5 business days of this filing, each party shall inform the Court, by filing a Notice of Redaction, of the party's intent to redact personal data identifiers from the electronic transcript of the court proceeding. The policy is located on our website at www.ohsd.uscourts.gov (Forms - Electronic Availability of Transcripts). Please read this policy carefully.
For a complete copy of a transcript, please contact the Court Reporter or the Clerk's Office. Redaction Request due 3/30/2023. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 4/10/2023. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 6/7/2023. (mas) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
03/09/2023 238 TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings, Day 24 of Jury Trial, as to Larry Householder, Jeffrey Longstreth, Neil Clark, Matthew Borges, Juan Cespedes, Generation Now Inc held on 03/07/2023 before Judge Timothy S. Black. Court Reporter/Transcriber: Lisa Conley Yungblut, Telephone number 513-564-7676. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through PACER.
NOTICE RE: REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: Within 5 business days of this filing, each party shall inform the Court, by filing a Notice of Redaction, of the party's intent to redact personal data identifiers from the electronic transcript of the court proceeding. The policy is located on our website at www.ohsd.uscourts.gov (Forms - Electronic Availability of Transcripts). Please read this policy carefully.
For a complete copy of a transcript, please contact the Court Reporter or the Clerk's Office. Redaction Request due 3/30/2023. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 4/10/2023. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 6/7/2023. (lcy) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
03/09/2023 239 TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings, Day 25 of Jury Trial, as to Larry Householder, Jeffrey Longstreth, Neil Clark, Matthew Borges, Juan Cespedes, Generation Now Inc held on 03/08/2023 before Judge Timothy S. Black. Court Reporter/Transcriber: Lisa Conley Yungblut, Telephone number 513-564-7676. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through PACER.
NOTICE RE: REDACTION OF TRANSCRIPTS: Within 5 business days of this filing, each party shall inform the Court, by filing a Notice of Redaction, of the party's intent to redact personal data identifiers from the electronic transcript of the court proceeding. The policy is located on our website at www.ohsd.uscourts.gov (Forms - Electronic Availability of Transcripts). Please read this policy carefully.
For a complete copy of a transcript, please contact the Court Reporter or the Clerk's Office. Redaction Request due 3/30/2023. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 4/10/2023. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 6/7/2023. (lcy) (Entered: 03/09/2023)
Defendants were found guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: