COLUMBUS – The former CEO of a red light camera vendor pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to her role in an eight-year bribery and fraud scheme, involving city officials in Columbus and Cincinnati.
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Karen Finley, CEO of Redflex until 2013, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and honest services wire and mail fraud, federal authorities said.
As part of the plea bargain, Finley confessed to funneling campaign contributions to elected officials — reportedly including Columbus City Council president and Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther — through a consultant from 2005 to 2013 “with the understanding that the elected public officials would assist the company in obtaining or retaining municipal contracts, including a photo red light enforcement contract with the City of Columbus,” according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart and other federal officials.
In a statement released by his campaign, Ginther denied any wrongdoing and said he asked City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer investigate existing contracts between the city and Redflex.
“I had absolutely no knowledge of these activities and did not take part in them,” Ginther said. “While I am not a subject of this inquiry, I have been asked to provide records that may help the investigation into Redflex. I’ve fully cooperated and will continue to assist in bringing these people to justice. In light of these charges, I have
Authorities said Finley, 55, of Cave Creek, Ariz., admitted she and her co-conspirators concealed the payments as false invoices for consulting services.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.