(Source: cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former Cuyahoga Land Bank employee was indicted in federal court on charges that accuse him of helping a demolition company get contracts in exchange for performing improvements to his Cleveland Heights home.

Kenneth Tyson, 48, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud, three counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of bribery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday in a news release.

“This defendant used his position to enrich himself with free home repairs when he was supposed to be helping rid our community of blight,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in the news release. “We remain committed to stamping out public corruption in all its forms.”

Tyson is currently the executive director of CLB Services, LLC, an affiliate of the land bank.

A land bank spokesman said in a statement Friday that the agency is aware of the indictment.

”The Land Bank treats these issues with the utmost seriousness and will cooperate fully in any investigation,” the spokesman said. “The Land Bank prides itself on conducting business in accordance with the highest standards. Our demolition contractors are properly vetted and Cuyahoga Land Bank demolition contracts are awarded based on competitive bidding.”...