Recordpub.com - 16 months for Jones

By Marci Piltz

Record-Courier staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN -- Former Ravenna Mayor Paul Jones was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison Friday in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio in Youngstown for filing false tax returns and lying on Ohio Ethics Commission forms.

"You can label this as a message if you want," Judge Peter C. Economus said. "A public official seduced by your own power and prestige, engaging in a violation of your oath ... you should fear the consequences and a subsequent punishment be given. It's the only way to protect the public."

Economus suggested that Jones' request to serve his time at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., be granted, however the final determination is up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He also allowed Jones to turn himself in to the facility chosen rather than being sent there immediately following sentencing.

Jones, 56, and his attorney, John C. McCaffrey of Cleveland, had asked Economus for a maximum sentence of 12 months and one day, partially based on Jones' more than 30 years in public service as not only mayor of Ravenna but also for his service in the Ohio House of Representatives.

That lengthy career in public service, however, seemed to convince Economus that the sentence sought was not appropriate due to Jones' breach of public trust, specifically to that of the citizens of Ravenna.

Prior to his sentencing, Jones addressed the court and offered an apology, though no real explanation, for his actions.

"This is a sad day for me," said Jones, who stood before the judge dressed in a plaid suit jacket and gray pants. He clasped his hands behind his back throughout most of the proceedings. "The unreporting of taxes, the not paying of those taxes in the correct amount, not doing the Ohio ethics reports required by officials are actions I would describe of myself to be wrong, unacceptable, illegal and just downright careless on my part.

"I am the responsible person for this. I've had a good deal of time the last year and three months to be introspective, and there has been no tougher critic than myself. I've asked myself hundreds of times why I was not more prudent or careful, and every answer I've come up with is just not acceptable ... I've caused my family a great deal of anguish."

Jones already has paid $50,000 to the IRS on approximately $162,687 of income he earned between 2001 and 2003 through his son's landscaping business, P.J. Jones Mowing but did not report on his federal income tax.

McCaffrey said Jones also has amended and paid taxes owed on his Ohio and Ravenna tax returns for 2001 to 2003. The taxes owed totaled $19,500.

McCaffrey said P.J. Jones started the lawnmowing business at 15 but that it "snowballed into something much bigger" when he left for college at Harvard University, at which time Paul Jones began "performing those services and benefiting from revenue for performing those services."

"Mr. Jones offers no excuses," McCaffrey said before Jones spoke before the court.

The federal charges against Jones stemmed from his failure to report income earned between 2001 and 2003 from his son's lawn mowing service, as well as from his failure to notify the Ohio Ethics Commission of his connection with his son P.J.'s mowing and snow removal company.

Jones served as mayor of Ravenna from 1976 to 1982 and from January 1996 to December 2005 and as state representative from 1982 to 1994.

Economus, who said he's seen his share or political corruption in Mahoning County, said he believes such violations affect communities for years.

"This isn't a happy day for the court," Economus began. "My position is that as mayor of Ravenna, you were charged to act in the best interest of the citizens of Ravenna. You betrayed that trust for your own personal gain. We've had more than our fair share of that in Mahoning County, and the citizens, their loss of confidence in the government, it's still here. There has to come a time when public officials have to get the picture."

Assistant U.S. District Attorney Ann C. Rowland, who represented the federal prosecution, also brought up what she termed a "scandal" while Jones served in the Ohio House involving compensation from health insurance companies while chairing a health committee in the house. That resulted in legislation changing laws to prohibit such conflicts of interest.

"I would have hoped a public official who'd gone through that would have been very careful in filling out their disclosure forms and taxes. He ended up losing his legislative seat after that. Apparently, he did not learn from his mistakes," she said.

Rowland said she feels a "public official who cheats on his taxes is egregious, especially when constituents are told there are not enough funds for public projects and that (non-payment of taxes) contributes to that problem."

Jones is requesting that he serve his time at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., a minimum-security, males-only facility approximately 500 miles from 11205 Parkside Place, Bradenton, Fla., where Jones has claimed residence since resigning as mayor mid-term in December 2005. Though he did not mention it in court, Economus also apparently granted Jones' request that he be allowed to turn himself in to the Florida facility.

Rowland said a letter will be sent to Jones soon giving him a date that he must turn himself in to begin serving his sentence.

Jones' brothers, Tom and Bill, were in court for the sentencing. No other members of his immediate family appeared in court with him. The three left together after the proceedings in a silver Dodge Magnum, pulling away quickly from the front of the courthouse without comment.

Jones served as mayor of Ravenna from 1976 through 1982 and from 1996 until he resigned in 2005. He served six terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1983 through 1994. He also was chairman of the Portage County Democratic Party from 1994 until his resignation as mayor and also served on the Portage County Board of Elections.

Thousands of pages of documents from the federal investigation have been turned over to the Portage County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci said Thursday the investigation is ongoing to determine if any state laws were violated that could result in charges.

Staff writer Dave O'Brien contributed to this story.