BishopAccountability.org
	Former Church Official's Trial Starts with Jury Selection Associated Press, carried in WDTN May 12, 2008 http://www.wdtn.com/Global/story.asp?S=8310330 CLEVELAND (AP) - Jury selection has begun in the trial of the former chief financial officer of Cleveland's Catholic Diocese who is accused of receiving $784,000 in kickbacks. Fifty-1-year-old Joseph H. Smith of Avon Lake was the boss of a former diocese accountant convicted in October in the scheme. Prosecutors say Smith authorized $17.5 million worth of diocesan bookkeeping fees over five years to the accountant in return for the money. Jury selection in Smith's case could last into Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Charges against him include filing false personal income tax returns, money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy. The diocese has said it had been unaware of financial wrongdoing and was victimized through the illegal payments.
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