Federal prosecutors are seeking at least five years in prison for the former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party who was convicted of taking part in the largest corruption scandal in the state's history.
As reported by News 5 Cleveland, the FBI has asked for a prison sentence of between five and eight years for former Ohio GOP Leader Matt Borges, one of several Ohio Republicans who took part in a massive racketeering operation that involved bribery payments intended to secure a government bailout of a nuclear power operator.
Among other things, Borges was convicted of bribing one-time friend Tyler Fehrman, who had become an FBI informant.
As noted by News 5 Cleveland, Borges regularly lobbed threats at Fehrman, including one time in which he warned him, "I'm going to blow your house up."
"Matt threatened my life, disrupted my existence, and took advantage of our friendship to line his own pockets," Fehrman told News 5 Cleveland. "His actions are inexcusable and wrong — regardless of what sentence he is given. Personally, I hope that both he and Larry are given the maximum sentence for their crimes.”
Borges, however, has countered by saying that he should only receive one year in prison for his crimes.