Paper Exposes Possible Pay-to-Play Scandal for State Debt Collection Work

In its Sunday edition, The Columbus Dispatch ran a story alleging a possible influence-peddling scheme in Ohio concerning state debt collection contracts.

The story focused on the case of Charles A. Mifsud, one of Ohio’s top debt collectors. Critics claim that his 2001-2002 investments into the campaign of Ohio State’s Attorney General Jim Petro picked him up a healthy $1.4 million in revenue in 2005. Petro, who is currently working on a campaign for the governorship of Ohio, now finds himself under scrutiny for alleged quid pro quo infractions in debt collection contracts.

Petro’s deputy in charge of debt collections, Sue Pohler, sees nothing suspicious at all in the numbers. Ninety-three per cent of the $16.5 million of state debt collected in Ohio went to lawyers who contributed significantly to Petro’s political campaigns since 1999. “They see good government,” Pohler told the Columbus Dispatch. “I make personal political contributions when I think people are doing a good job.”

Lawyers who gave generously to Petro’s campaigns earned, on average, $175,616 in state debt-collection business. Lawyers who didn’t contribute only pulled in $33,158, according to the story.

For the entire story, please visit Petro donors reap collection work.