According to the six-count indictment, Sittenfeld accepted money in 2018 and 2019 while promising to “deliver the votes” and perform other official actions regarding a development project by former Cincinnati Bengals player and developer Chinedum Ndukwe.
The federal grand jury indicted Sittenfeld on charges of honest services wire fraud, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and attempted extortion under color of official right. DeVillers announced the indictment Thursday at the Federal Bureau of Investigations office in Cincinnati.
Agents arrested Sittenfeld at about 9:30 a.m. at his home, DeVillers said.
Sittenfeld is accused of accepting eight checks in 2018 and 2019 while promising to “deliver the votes” in regard to a development project. Officials said Sittenfeld “corruptly solicited” payments and received them in a political action committee (PAC).
According to the indictment, when asked how he wanted to receive the money, Sittenfeld said, “I do have a PAC that one, no one’s like snooping around in who’s giving that there, I mean I think frankly a lot of people don’t even know I have it. Any LLC or individual can give up to $5,000 to that.”
Sittenfeld presented data to undercover agents posing as investors to show that he is politically popular in the city and is likely to be the next mayor, the indictment said. Sittenfeld announced in July he planned to run for mayor in 2021.
The indictment includes pieces of recorded conversations between Sittenfeld and a cooperating witness (Ndukwe), along with two undercover federal agents posing as investors.
Sittenfeld solicited money in exchange for favorable votes on a project Ndukwe hoped to develop. Cincinnati City Council Member Jeff Pastor is also accused of accepting bribe money from Ndukwe for votes on the same project.
DeVillers said he is not aware of any conversations between Sittenfeld and Pastor in regard to the development.
The announcement of Sittenfeld’s arrest comes nine days after agents arrested Pastor on federal bribery charges related to the same development projects.
Pastor has not resigned, though Sittenfeld called for his resignation a day after his arrest.
This is a sad day for our city. If the allegations are true, a new member of Council needs to be appointed to move forward with the many pressing issues facing our community. My prayers go out to Councilmember Pastor’s family.
— P.G. Sittenfeld (@PGSittenfeld) November 10, 2020
The arrests of Pastor and Sittenfeld mark the second and third time a sitting Cincinnati City Council Member has been arrested this year. Federal officials arrested former Cincinnati City Council Member Tamaya Dennard in February. She pled guilty in June to honest services wire fraud for taking $15,000 in exchange for votes on council.
Attorneys for Dennard and Pastor said their clients did not provide any information regarding Sittenfeld.
WCPO has reached out to Sittenfeld’s office for comment.
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