Chronology of Noe s involvement

The following is a chronology of Tom Noe s involvement with state officials prior to today s announcement of his indictment.

1991

• Then-Gov. George Voinovich appoints Tom Noe to the Bowling Green State Univeristy Board of Trustees.

1993

• In divorce proceedings, Mr. Noe says that his political work helps him meet people who became clients of his coin business, including the late Paul Mifsud, Mr. Voinovich s chief of staff, and Republican Party leaders in northeast Ohio who "control a lot of money."

1995

• Governor Voinovich appoints Mr. Noe to the Ohio Board of Regents.

1997

• Governor Voinovich signs law that revamps how state can invest; opens the door to alternative investments like the coin funds that follow. Mr. Mifsud testified in favor of the law, as did Terry Gasper, the chief financial officer for the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.

December

• Mr. Noe submits proposal to manage a rare coin fund for the bureau even before the bureau approves its emerging managers program.TK

1998

March 31

• After getting approval from the bureau s Oversight Commission, Mr. Noe s coin fund gets its first $25 million. Attorney General Jim Petro later accuses Mr. Noe of diverting money for personal use almost immediately.

April 7

• Mr. Noe and his wife contribute $4,500 to then-Secretary of State Bob Taft s bid for governor. At the time, they were their largest contributions.

2000

• Auditor for the bureau raises multiple questions about the coin fund in a strongly worded report to his superiors. He suggests it could be a problem for bureau officials if the there are any future "fradulent acts."

2001

July

• Bureau invests another $25 million with Mr. Noe in a new coin fund.

2002

April

• Taft chief of staff Brian Hicks vacations in Mr. Noe s Florida home.

• Mr. Noe gives H. Douglas Talbott, a former aide to both governors Voinovich and Taft, a $39,000 loan to help buy a home in the Lakeside community in Ottawa County.

2003

April

• Mr. Hicks again vacations in Mr. Noe s Florida home.

June

• Gov. Bob Taft appoints Mr. Noe to the Ohio Turnpike Commission.

Oct. 30

• Mr. Noe attends Bush fund-raiser in Columbus, where he helped to raise $1.4 million. His role is focus of later federal investigation.

2004

• Douglas Moormann, who served as Mr. Taft s executive assistant for business and industry, receives a $5,000 loan from Mr. Noe.

• Workers Comp bureau loses $215 in a questionable hedge fund; news of the loss isn t revealed until investigators looking into Mr. Noe discover it the following June.

2005

April 3

• The Blade publishes first story revealing the state s $50 million coin deal with Mr. Noe.

April 7

• In interview with The Blade, Governor Taft strongly defends Noe, declaring: "He s making money for the state. What s the problem? Ohio Inspector General Thomas Charles announces that he will investigate the coin funds.

April 22

• Ohio Ethics Commission rules that Mr. Noe cannot be a member of the Regents while having a financial interest in a for-profit company that is negotiating a licensing deal with the University of Toledo. It suggests he either quit the company or resign from the Regents.

April 27

• U.S. Attorney Gregory White announces federal investigation into Mr. Noe regarding contributions to the Bush-Cheney campaign. Mr. Noe had been chairman of the campaign in northwest Ohio.

May 9

• The bureau pulls plug on coin funds and asks Mr. Petro to appoint a liquidator.

May 10

• Mr. Noe resigns from Board of Regents and the Turnpike Commission.

May 11

• The Blade asks the Ohio Supreme Court to order the bureau to provide access coin records.

May 16

• Ohio Auditor Betty Montgomery launches special audit, days after Mr. Charles requested one.

May 18

• Chief Justice Thomas Moyer and Justices Maureen O Connor, Evelyn Stratton and Terrence O Donnell join Justice Judith Lanzinger in recusing themselves from Blade lawsuit to obtain Noe records. Mr. Noe was chairman of Ms. Lanzinger s campaign.

May 26

• State officials announced they are pursuing civil and criminal measures against Mr. Noe after his attorney informed authorities that up to $13 million is missing from the rare-coin investment.

May 27

• Govnernor Taft labels the coin funds a "bad decision" by the state and that Mr. Noe was the "wrong person" to give money to. He announces the impending resignation of James Conrad, the long-time administrator of the bureau.

June 2

• President Bush s campaign announced that it would return $4,000 in contributions from Mr. Noe and his wife. Several state GOP leaders, including Governor Taft, Mr. Petro, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Auditor Betty Montgomery, had announced the day before that they would return or donate nearly $50,000 in Noe contributions.

July 29

• Mr. Hicks is convicted on misdemeanor ethics charges for not disclosing his vacation stays at Mr. Noe s Florida home. Cherie Carroll, another former Taft aide, is convicted for accepting free meals from Mr. Noe. Both were fined $1,000.

Aug. 18

• Governor Taft is convicted for violating state ethics laws for not disclosing more than four dozen golf outings and other gifts. He is fined $4,000 by a Franklin County Municipal Court judge.

Sept. 7

• Bureau of Workers Compensation fires Jim McLean, the chief investment officer.

Oct. 27

• Mr. Noe is indicted on federal charges, with U.S. Attorney s office alleging he illegally funnelled $45,400 into the Bush Cheney campaign. Records show the feds believe Mr. Noe used 24 "conduits" to pump the money into the campaing, including Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber, Toledo City Councilman Betty Shultz, former Toledo Mayor Donna Owens, and former state representative Sally Perz.

Nov. 17

• The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation fires its remaining 69 investment managers and decides to move its $15 billion investment portfolio to more conservative fixed-income funds.

2006

Feb. 13

• A Lucas County grand jury indicts Mr. Noe, charging him with 53 felony counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, theft, money laundering, tampering with records, and forgery.