State prison officials have reversed an earlier statement saying that the only person sent to prison for his part in a Youngstown public corruption scandal would be moved to a halfway house after completing half of his one-year sentence.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections told 21 News earlier Tuesday that former Youngstown Finance Director David Bozanich is scheduled to be released from the Lake Erie Correctional Institution on March 8, 2021.

At the time, an ODRC spokesperson said Bozanich had been approved for transitional control release on or after the March 8 date, which would have placed him in a halfway house.

The database of state prison inmates also listed March 8 as a release date for Bozanich.

Late Tuesday afternoon 21 News was again contacted by the ODRC spokesperson who said that they had since learned that a judge had denied transitional control release for Bozanich, and he would have to complete his entire one-year sentence.

Below is a transcript of that statement:

I wanted to follow up regarding this case.

It came to our attention today that the judge did in fact deny the transitional control release. The denial was placed on the public docket, however DRC has no record of directly receiving the denial, which is normally how such responses are received. Now that we are aware of this information, the transitional control release is denied per the judicial reply. DRC contacted the Court and notified them of this change. Mr. Bozanich will serve the remainder of his sentence until 9/2/21 as originally ordered by the Court.

Thank you.

JoEllen Smith

On September 14, 2020, Bozanich began serving a one-year sentence imposed by Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Maureen Sweeney following Bozanich’s plea to charges of bribery and tampering with records.

Bozanich and three other men were charged after an investigation into corruption that included allegations that the city of Youngstown was tricked into paying more than $90,000 for work that was not performed on the Erie Terminal project.

Dominic Marchionda was placed on probation for five years after pleading guilty to four felony counts of tampering with records.

As a condition of a plea agreement, Marchionda had to remove himself from management responsibilities at Rubino Construction, Inc., Wick Properties, Erie Terminal Place, and the NYO Property Group.

Another local businessman, Ray Bryia, was placed on probation for three years and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for each of those three years.

Briya pleaded guilty to five felony charges for either offering or giving away valuables, including over $100,000 in cash, meals, gifts, and golf benefits over a decade in an attempt to bribe former Youngstown Mayor Charles Sammarone and Bozanch.

Investigators say Briya also falsified an invoice with Marchionda, misrepresenting work that was ultimately billed to the city.

Briya also stole more than $200,000 from his employer to finance the bribes, according to prosecutors.

Sammarone was placed on probation back in March after pleading guilty to tampering with records.