Cincinnati councilman with ties to sports betting charged with bribing
Cincinnati councilman P.G. Sittenfeld was arrested by the FBI last week on bribery charges, including a promise to develop a brick-and-mortar sportsbook in the city once Ohio legalizes sports betting.
Sittenfeld is the third member of the Cincinnati Council charged with accepting bribes this year and his arrest could be the most consequential of them all. The 36-year old Democrat was favored to win the Cincinnati mayoral race in 2021.
If convicted, Sittenfeld could face up to 20 years in prison.
FBI agents led a sting operation against Sittenfeld where they posed as developers interested in operating businesses including a brick-and-mortar sportsbook.
Sittenfeld agreed to push through a sportsbook, which was said to be sponsored by former Cincinnati Bengal Chinedum Ndukwe.
The councilman also promised to prioritize the sportsbook by potentially withholding support for competitors to develop sports betting businesses in the city.
Sittenfeld accepted eight $5,000 checks over two years. His charges include bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion.
Meanwhile, Ohio legislators are still debating an existing sports betting bill which would award a total of 22 licenses at an 8% tax rate.
Proponents of the bill hope to get it passed by the end of the current legislative session. If not, it could take well into 2021 until a similar bill is proposed and voted on.
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