Suspended East Cleveland Mayor Brandon King and former councilman Ernest Smith found guilty of corruption charges...Both are Black as county prosecutor Mike O'Malley is accused of targeting Black elected officials and leaving White ones alone...By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio's Black digital news leader.

Former East Cleveland mayor Brandon King and former East Cleveland councilman Ernest Smith Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cuyahoga County jury on Thursday found suspended East Cleveland mayor Brandon King and former councilman Ernest Smith guilty of public corruption charges. The trial followed months of legal manoeuvrings and claims of corruption by judges and prosecutors from the defense team. East Cleveland is a neighboring Black suburb of Cleveland of some 15,000 residents, and one of the poorest cities in the nation. King, 57, was convicted of three fourth-degree felonies – theft in office and two counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract – as well as misdemeanor offenses. He faces up to 18 months in prison on the felony convictions alo...