The FBI raided the chambers of two judges – Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judges -- Steven Terry and Bridget McCafferty – in a county corruption probe made public in July, when FBI and IRS agents raided the homes and offices of county officials Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo and Kevin Kelley. The reasons behind the operation were unknown.

Federal authorities are also investigating J. Kevin Kelley, an employee of the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office.

It appears that the agents were looking into allegations that Dimora, Russo and Kelly are suspected of trading county contracts for thousands of dollars for work on their homes, the Plain Dealer notes.  

Sheriff's Inspector Rob Havranek said the two judges cooperated with the search. They accompanied the FBI agents, whom they met in a private parking area in the basement of the Justice Center, the same source reported. The two told reporters they were unaware of the FBI’s visit.

Steven Terry is a political ally of Frank Russo’s. From 2004 to 2007, he served as the director for the Cuyahoga County Department of Justice Affairs, where he oversaw a department with a $38 million budget and 170 employees. He was appointed to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas by Gov. Ted Strickland in April, 2007. 

Terry’s attorney Angelo Lonardo said he does not know the basis for the search warrant. “Judge Terry ategorically states that he has personally engaged in no wrongdoing to warrant this action,” the attorney’s statement said.

Cuyahoga County is led by the three-member Board of County Commissioners, whose current members are Jimmy Dimora, Tim Hagan, and Peter Lawson. The Government of Cuyahoga County is controlled by Democrats and has 9,400 employees.