Ohio Tag Archives — Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog

Published on: September 7, 2020

Three Florida Men Accused of Stealing Ohio Residents’ Tax Refunds, COVID-19 Stimulus Checks in Fraud Conspiracy

Three Florida men face federal charges in Cincinnati, OH, for their alleged role in a financial fraud conspiracy that involved stealing identities in order to fraudulently obtain tax refunds, coronavirus (COVID-19) stimulus checks, and credit cards.

Adesh Alvin Bissoon, 41, of Miami Beach; Michael Jacques Joseph, 37, of Miami Beach; and Victor Torres, 38, of Apollo Beach are charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, mail fraud affecting a financial institution, and aggravated identity theft. It is unclear if they have acquired legal representation.

Published on: June 22, 2020

Nine Pharmacists Charged for Role in $12.1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme in Michigan and Ohio

by Brian Silber

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed the indictments of nine pharmacists who were charged last week for their alleged participation in a $12.1 million health care fraud scheme executed in Michigan and Ohio.

Published on: July 16, 2019

Eric L. Hughes of Toledo, Ohio Convicted of Workers’ Compensation Fraud

by Brian Silber

After pleading guilty last month to not having workers compensation coverage for his employees, an Ohio man has been ordered to pay almost $57,000 in restitution and serve three years of probation.

Eric L. Hughes, age 53, is a contractor based in Holland, a suburb of Toledo in north-west Ohio. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Hughes has been operating in the Toledo area since 1993 under the business names “Eric L Hughes Sr” and “Idp Maintenance.” The BBB estimates Hughes’ companies generate about $70,000 per year in revenue.
Continue reading

Published on: April 30, 2019

Ohio Businessman Sentenced for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud

by Brian Silber

An Ohio businessman has been ordered to pay $144,400 in restitution and serve two years of probation for his part in a workers’ compensation fraud scheme.

Robert Tate, age 50, of Mansfield in north-central Ohio, is owner and operator of Elite TNT Enterprises LLC, a trucking and freight hauling business. Elite TNT Enterprises opened its doors in December 2016. It was only a few months later, however, that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) learned that Tate was operating his business without workers’ compensation insurance coverage for his employees.
Continue reading

Published on: February 26, 2019

Ohio Slashes Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rates

by Brian Silber

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will cut the cost of the average premium rate for private employers by 20 percent. This is the largest single reduction in almost 60 years and follows the 12 percent reduction in premiums approved last year.

Stephanie McCloud, administrator/CEO of BWC, said, “We’re pleased to continue the trend of falling rates with a reduction that will save Ohio private employers more than $200 million next year.” These are, she said, the ninth reduction in workers compensation rates in Ohio since 2008.
Continue reading