Redlight camera lobbyist agrees to plead to extortion, releases statement

John Raphael, the Columbus lobbyist at the heart of the city’s red-light-camera bribery scandal, has agreed to plead to a federal charge of extortion. The charge says Raphael interfered with commerce by threats, a violation of the Hobbs Act, according to documents filed this morning in U.S. District Court. The charge states that Raphael extorted money in the form of campaign contributions for elected officials from Redflex for contracts awarded by the Columbus City Council. Raphael, 60, fa