First Published: March 26, 2008
Subpoenas from the Mahoning County grand jury went out earlier this week regarding an investigation into the purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place.
Officials said nearly 22 subpoenas either have been or will soon be delivered. Each subpoena requests documents or information concerning the sale of Oakhill.
Mahoning County Treasurer Lisa Antonini confirmed she did receive a subpoena earlier this week asking for documents related to any communication she had regarding the sale of Oakhill. Antonini and her attorney, Damian Billak, say they will cooperate fully with the subpoena.
Mahoning Prosecutor Paul Gains said the subpoenas are part of an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission. Since grand jury proceedings are secret, Gains would not say if the grand jury will be meeting anytime soon.
Billak, however, said the subpoenas are asking for all the information to be returned to the grand jury by April 24. Commissioner John McNally said he did not get a subpoena and he did not know anything about the investigation.
In October, Mahoning County leaders spent four days defending their decision to buy Oakhill in court. A judge ruled that the Mahoning County Commissioners did nothing illegal when purchasing Oakhill.
A subsidiary of the Cafaro Corporation was behind the effort to block the Oakhill sale in an effort to keep the Job and Family Services leasing space at the old McGuffey Plaza. Cafaro spokesman Joe Bell said no subpoenas have been served on Cafaro Corporation employees.
