Ohio Mayor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gambling, Racketeering

(Associated Press) - A former longtime northeast Ohio mayor accused of taking bribes in exchange for jobs and running an illegal gambling house has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges.

Former Niles Mayor Ralph Infante pleaded not guilty this week to charges including theft in office, illegal gambling and racketeering. He was mayor 24 years before losing last year’s Democratic primary.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has said the 61-year-old Infante received nearly $200,000 in unreported cash, income and gifts and ran an illegal gambling house in Girard.

Infante’s wife, Judith, pleaded not guilty to charges including tampering with evidence and theft.

A judge has asked attorneys and defendants in the case not to talk about it outside of court.

The case is expected to go to trial April 21.