May 8, 2015 CLEVELAND, Ohio — The owner of a Cleveland auto repair shop was charged Friday with giving thousands of dollars in bribes to a then-U.S. Postal Service official in exchange for receiving a government contract.

Andrew Maloney Jr., 37, of Bedford Heights, is accused of bribing Kevin Hood, who as the time was vehicle maintenance manager for the post office’s Cleveland operations. Maloney is the owner of Andrew’s Auto Service on Hamilton Avenue.

Hood, 47, pleaded guilty in June to accepting bribes from Maloney and is serving a 46-month federal prison sentence.

The charge was brought in a criminal information, which usually means a plea deal is in the works. Read more

Cleveland USPS VMF manager gets 46 months in prison for taking bribes

The owner said Hood approached him for money in order to get work and contracts from the Postal Service. In late 2011, the business owner paid Hood in cash and believed he had to continue to pay Hood to receive work, according to court documents.

Hood received $15,000 in bribes, more than $4,000 in free vehicle repairs, at least $900 worth of stolen parts, according to court documents and statements.

On March 6, 2014 the owner paid Hood $4,500 in $100 bills. Hood placed the envelope containing the bills in his left boot. The transaction was monitored and recorded by USPS Office of Inspector General Special Agents, according to court documents.