MICHAEL ROSS CHARGED

Michael Ross was in court Monday morning for a hearing when he received the news that he was being charged in a bribery indictment along with two local businessmen. The indictment, unsealed Monday morning, states that Ross, when he was a Lorain County Commissioner, received money from Randall Gordon and Vincent Carbone between 1999 and 2002. Gordon was a partner in an architectural firm, which designed the Justice Center. Carbone is the president of R.P. Carbone Construction, the construction manager on the Justice Center. The indictment also lists Larry Jones, a local businessman.

Ross, who already faces other criminal charges for business conducted during his 1997 to 2000 term, is being held at the Lorain County Jail on $500.000 bond. Ross is facing 10 counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, money laundering, bribery and unlawful interest in a public contract.