Dimora’s Wife Sobs in Court

AKRON, Ohio –

There were two very different moods inside the federal courtroom of Judge Sara Lioi as those assembled awaited the return of the jury in the corruption trial of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and co-defendant Michael Gabor.

Federal prosecutors laughed and smiled as they talked amongst themselves. Dimora walked into court shortly before noon. He appeared beaten as he made his way to the defense table alone. His wife, Lori, mostly at his side throughout the trial, arrived a few minutes later. Dimora shot her a glance, but she didn’t seem to notice, nor did she go out of her way to look at her husband prior to reading of the verdict.

Minutes later, the proceeding began.  As the first guilty verdict rang out, Dimora appeared not to notice. He looked away, fixing his gaze on a nearby window and the world that waited beyond. The second guilty verdict brought him back. As bad news continued to mount, Dimora would occasionally turn toward that same window, only looking at the jury twice.

Midway through the reading of 38 charges, the former commissioner, now a convicted felon, turned toward the back of the courtroom where his son, Anthony, and wife were sitting. He shot them a glance, as if to say “it’s over.”

There were no visible signs of emotion from Dimora or his family until the end of the proceeding when federal marshals moved to place handcuffs on the former commissioner. As he was led from the courtroom, he gestured a kiss to his wife and said, “Love you.” He told his son goodbye and walked from the room, never looking back. Only then, did Lori Dimora break down and begin to gently sob. Fox 8 was the only news outlet with a sketch artist in the courtroom to record the reaction of Dimora and his family to the verdicts.

Gabor was also placed in restraints and led from the courtroom; he went virtually unnoticed as all eyes fell on the wife of Jimmy Dimora and the small group of people gathering to bring her comfort.

*Click here for complete FOX8.com coverage of the Jimmy Dimora corruption trial.