The Supreme Court of Ohio has indefinitely suspended the law license of former Toledo City Councilman Tyrone Riley following his federal public corruption conviction. Riley, who has been under an interim suspension since September 2023 after pleading guilty to violating the federal Hobbs Act, began serving a two-year prison sentence in January. The court's per curiam opinion denied him credit for time served under the interim suspension. Typically, an attorney with an indefinite suspension can seek reinstatement after two years.
Riley's conviction stemmed from extorting money from those conducting business with the city. The court noted that permanent disbarment is usually the sanction for attorneys in public office who commit extortion. However, they opted for an indefinite suspension due to Riley’s prior commitment to public service, suggesting he might rehabilitate and return to legal practice.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy and Justices Patrick F. Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine, Michael P. Donnelly, Melody Stewart, and Joseph T. Deters supported the opinion, while Justice Jennifer Brunner did not participate.
Riley served on the city council from 2012 to 2020 and stepped down amid a federal investigation leading to his indictment alongside three other council members in July 2020. Between April 2019 and February 2020, he voted on zoning changes and special use permits for local businesses in exchange for money or meals.
One notable incident involved an FBI source seeking a permit for an internet café in Toledo. Riley solicited $5,000 from this source in exchange for facilitating the permit process. Although initially returning the cash during their second meeting, Riley later accepted it as a "loan" with a repayment date set at the end of 2024.
In February 2020, Riley voted favorably on the permit application without depositing the $5,000 or reporting it on his campaign finance report. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to extortion under the Hobbs Act.
The Toledo Bar Association filed a complaint against Riley with the Board of Professional Conduct based on his felony conviction. The board found that Riley's actions reflected poorly on his honesty and trustworthiness and violated rules against claiming undue influence over government officials.
While permanent disbarment is generally expected for such offenses by public officials, mitigating factors like Riley’s community service history led to a recommendation for indefinite suspension instead. The court referenced similar cases involving former state senator Jeffery Johnson and former Mahoning County Auditor Michael Sciortino who also received indefinite suspensions rather than disbarment.
"Our imposition of an indefinite suspension rather than a permanent disbarment does not diminish the gravity of Riley’s misconduct," stated the opinion while affirming that an indefinite suspension was appropriate given his record.
Riley is also required to cover disciplinary proceeding costs.