Less than a week after Republicans lost their grip on state politics, a former GOP fundraiser who played a role in the party's Election Day defeat was convicted of stealing from a state investment in rare coins.

Tom Noe, accused of taking at least $2 million, was found guilty of theft, corrupt activity, money laundering, forgery and tampering with records. The jury found Noe guilty of 29 of 40 counts.

Voters fed up with government corruption scandals broke the GOP's 12-year lock on state government, electing Democrats to the governor's office, a U.S. Senate seat and three of four other key statewide offices.

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation gave Noe $25 million in 1998 to invest in rare coins, followed by $25 million in 2001. At the same time, he began his rise to prominence in state politics.

Prosecutors accused Noe, 52, of spending money from the coin fund on his business, his home in the Florida Keys and other luxury items. They did not say whether he used the money to make campaign contributions to Republicans, including President Bush.

Defense attorneys, who did not present any witnesses, said Noe had permission from the bureau to invest the money, had wide discretion how to invest it and produced profits over the years. They said Noe was the victim of bad bookkeeping and that not one witness said Noe asked them to falsify or misrepresent anything.

Noe stood still and stared straight ahead when the verdicts were announced. He was led away in handcuffs by federal marshals to be held in the county jail until his sentencing Nov. 20.

He faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence on the corrupt activity charge.

As he left, his wife and daughters huddled, hugged and wept.

"It's sort of a sad day in a way because of the things we've learned about a system that has gone on here," said Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates. Defense attorneys declined to comment after the verdict.

The scandal led to charges against about a dozen people, including Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest last year to failing to report golf outings and other gifts. Investment operations were overhauled at the insurance fund for injured workers, and its administrator was forced out.

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