Elected position/Job: Former administrator, Cuyahoga County engineer's office

First noted: In federal charges against him, J. Kevin Kelley, Daniel Gallagher and Brian Schuman on June 12, 2009.

Charged: June 12, 2009.

Status: Pleaded guilty to charges on July 1, 2009. Died awaiting sentence. Was facing a likely sentence of at least seven years in prison.

Lawyer: Bradley Barbin

Corruption probe connections: Payne, who was chief of staff in the county engineer's office, admitted to profiting from several bribery schemes. Payne cooperated with J. Kevin Kelley, a county employee he supervised, to funnel work on a county mapping project to Broma Information Technology in return for cash, according to his plea agreement. A flooring company hired bythe Parma schools also did free work in Payne's home. Payne also admitted to exchanging jobs and pay-raise favors with county Auditor Frank Russo. Russo hired Payne's friendJennifer Justice and gave her unearned raises in return for Payne givingraises to Russo's daughter, who worked in the engineer's office, according to his plea. Payne, who had thyroid cancer, died before he could testify. He spent his last days in hospice care.

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