Jimmy Dimora Files Appeal With Sixth Circuit

CLEVELAND — Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora has filed a formal appeal to the 28-year prison sentence he received for running a criminal enterprise while in office.

According to a document filed with the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Dimora is appealing the final judgement handed down by Federal Judge Sara Lioi on August 1, 2012.

Dimora’s new attorney, Chistian J. Grostic, filed the appeal on behalf of his client. Dimora’s former legal team, Bill and Andrea Whitaker, stepped aside following Dimora’s sentencing.

“I was retained by Mr. Dimora to represent him on appeal. I plan to go through the record from his trial, find out whether errors were made and, if so, present them to the court of appeals for its review,” said Grostic in an e-mail response to questioned asked by Fox 8 News.

Dimora continues to deny his involvement in a criminal scheme that he was convicted of orchestrating.

Prior to receiving his 28-year sentence Dimora spoke to the court stating, “I want to emphatically deny that I had any involvement in that activity.”

Dimora was found guilty on 37 of 38 corruption related charges earlier this year. His crimes included conspiracy to commit mail fraud, extortion, bribery, falsification of records and tax returns while in public office.

Judge Lioi stayed within federal sentencing guidelines when handing down Dimora’s sentence, but the ruling was more than the 22-years federal prosecutors recommended at a pre-sentencing hearing.