NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly two years after his indictment on federal corruption and bribery charges, former Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe's trial started Tuesday.
McCabe was accused of defrauding the people of Norfolk through a bribery scheme. Federal investigators said McCabe and Gerard Boyle engaged in an illicit quid pro quo relationship while McCabe was sheriff.
Sixteen jurors were seated on Tuesday.
McCabe's lawyer, James Broccoletti, said this long-awaited trial is a chance for McCabe to tell his side of the story.
"Well, it's been two years since the indictment, true. It's been four years since the newspaper articles, so we're looking forward to being able to get our side of the story out and put this behind him," he said. "It's very stressful for anybody who's been in this situation for this long a period of time. He's getting older and when he gets a little bit older - you know - their health gets a little more challenging. We've got a good two weeks ahead of us and we're looking forward to it."
During most of the time covered in the indictment, Boyle was the Chief Executive Officer of Correct Care Solutions, a company that he founded and which contracted with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office to provide medical services to the inmates at the Norfolk City Jail.
The allegations outlined in the indictment state that from about January 2004 and December 2016, Boyle gave McCabe cash, provided travel, a loan, entertainment, gift cards, personal gifts, and made campaign contributions to McCabe.
The accusation is that the gifts were in exchange for official actions that favored Boyle’s company with the medical services contract. That included contract extensions and renewals, as well as inside bidding information.
McCabe said he is not guilty of the charges brought against him.
Boyle also is named as a defendant in the indictment.