The war of words, financial figures and conspiracy theories surrounding the county's purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place started swirling long before special prosecutors began to look into the sale almost two years ago.
The officials who tried to stop the sale of Oakhill have always said they did so with the Mahoning County taxpayers in mind. Thursday, more than 40 pages of indictments say they also engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity to keep the county's department of Job and Family Services located in the Cafaro-owned McGuffey Plaza.
Who's right and who's wrong will likely be decided in a court of law. But both sides have been fighting it out in the court of public opinion for some time now.
"Our opposition wasn't about the Garland Plaza," said former Mahoning County Treasurer John Reardon. "That wasn't the point. Our opposition was based on our belief that Oak Hill was a bad idea."
"They don't want to hear about the finances," Commissioner John McNally said back in May, defending their opposition to the county's purchase of Oak Hill four years prior. "They don't want to hear about the bad decisions that have been made in regards to this building. They're looking for hides on the wall."
Auditor Michael Sciortino, also named in Thursday's indictment, fought an ongoing numbers battle with Administrator George Tablack about how much Oak Hill was costing county taxpayers. Each side said the other's figures simply don't add up.
"This is not a fair representation of an acquisition and development of a governmental property," said Tablack.
"This George Tablack Wall Street accounting is what's wrong with government today," said Sciortino. "The taxpayers deserve to know the true dollar amount."
Anthony Cafaro Sr. and the Cafaro Company have always denied any involvement in conspiracy, or corrupt activity, such as bribing elected officials to block the move of the Department of Job and Family Services out of the Cafaro Company's Garland Plaza.
"I can assure you nothing has been done that is improper," Anthony Cafaro's brother, JJ Cafaro previously said.
"If in fact Traficanti or anyone else has any evidence of any impropriety, put it on the table or shut your mouth," Anthony Cafaro previously said.
Now a 41-page indictment has hit the table, and arraignments could come as early as Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said it's a sad day for Mahoning County with these indictments being handed down to a few of his colleagues.
Traficanti issued a brief statement to the media Thursday night and said he wants to continue to represent the best interest of Mahoning County taxpayers and focus on the serious financial issues still facing the county.
"We're in the middle of a recession," said Traficanti. "We have to keep the jail open, we have to fund the courts, and of course, we're still in layoff mode in the county. So despite the recent developments today, which I will defer any further comments on, my focus is going to be to go above it, and to continue to keep my eye on the ball in working for the taxpayers."
Anthony Cafaro Sr. said in a statement released to our newsroom Thursday:
"I intend to plead not guilty to these meritless charges. I look forward to proving my innocence. The taxpayers of Mahoning County are now paying for the ill-advised decision to purchase Oak Hill Renaissance Place. My warnings about the costs to the taxpayers have been correct. This unfounded indictment will not silence my opposition to irresponsible governance."
