Leaving federal court with friend and attorney Jeff Limbian, Maureen Cronin said little to reporters walking away after pleading guilty to a pair of mail fraud charges dating back to her time on the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court bench.
She was first charged earlier this month but in court admitted she signed a plea deal with the government almost six weeks ago. Prosecutors said Cronin took an $18,000 dollar loan from a local business executive whose company had dozens of lawsuits in her court.
But instead of reporting the amount on her regular yearly financial disclosure statements with the Ohio Supreme Court, assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roberts said she concealed the loan's existence depriving "the citizens of Mahoning County her honest services" as an elected official.
While the government hasn't named the business executive, it has filed documents claiming it's the same individual who gave a $36,000 dollar loan to former Trumbull County Commissioner Jim Tsagaris.
Tuesday in court after explaining the charges, Judge Sara Lioi asked, "How do you plead?" Cronin simply replied, "Guilty, your honor."
After posting a $20,000 dollar bond, Cronin was permitted to leave. Sentencing is set for Feb. 23. The judge warned federal guidelines would require Cronin to serve time in prison.
On his charges of mail fraud, Tsagaris was sentenced to a year on house arrest. Last week, he was sentenced to nine months in jail for violating the terms of his probation.
Cronin was Mahoning County's first female judge, winning reelection twice without opposition. She served 13 years before retiring in the summer of 2007, near the beginning of her third term. Twice while judge, Cronin faced DUI charges, pleading no contest the first time and guilty the second.
