EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) — The mayor of East Cleveland and a city councilman appeared in court Friday for their hearings on corruption charges.

FOX 8 I-Team first to report The lawsuit was filed against Mayor Brandon King and East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith in early October.

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The corruption charges against King include two counts of office burglary, four counts of granting illegal benefits to public contracts, four counts of representation by a public official or employee, one count of making false statements and one count of improperly claiming compensation.

Between Jan. 1, 2019, and Oct. 2, 2024, King allegedly “authorized a public contract and payments to businesses owned by King and his family members through the city of East Cleveland,” according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said he allowed the city’s domestic violence department to rent office space in a building owned by King Management Group Limited for more than $14,100 a year.

According to prosecutors, the city of East Cleveland purchased more than $5,800 in cleaning supplies from American Merchandising Service, which is also owned by King, between March 16, 2019, and February 22, 2022.

Additionally, prosecutors allege King improperly provided a town car to former East Cleveland Councilman Ernest Smith between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2022.

King also gave Smith gas cards from the city of East Cleveland to purchase vehicle fuel. While in possession of the vehicle, Smith used two gas cards to purchase $6,791 in gasoline at the expense of the City of East Cleveland, prosecutors said.

Smith was indicted on several counts, including burglary of an office, two counts of theft, one count of improperly soliciting compensation, and one count of misuse of a credit card.

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“Mayor Brandon King has demonstrated his complete disregard and disdain for the rule of law,” prosecutor Michael O’Malley said in a news release. “The citizens of East Cleveland deserve better. The investigation continues.”

In court Friday, Mayor King pleaded not guilty and was granted $5,000 bail.

Smith also pleaded not guilty and was given a $5,000 bail.

The next hearing date has not yet been set.

This comes months after prosecutors indicted several East Cleveland police officers on a wide range of corruption-related charges.

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