An ongoing investigation into a multimillion dollar Central Ohio fraud and theft ring has already resulted in prison sentences for three fraudsters and suspended sentences for three others. Three other people are facing trial for their involvement in the fraud ring as well.
The ring's fraudulent conduct to date totals approximately $3.5 million in Ohio's Licking, Franklin and Delaware counties.
The investigation began after a suspicious insurance claim was submitted in January 2006 by the group's ringleader – Huey Granderson. After a lengthy investigation, a search warrant was carried out at Granderson's residence in July 2007. Multiple indictments followed shortly thereafter. By April of 2008, nine of the ring's participants were indicted by a Fairfield County Grand Jury on charges of falsifying mortgage and vehicle loan documents to fraudulently obtain financing, theft of vehicles and equipment, money laundering and tax evasion.
The Ohio Department of Insurance's has so far investigated more than 17 real estate purchases, 15 motor vehicle purchases and six insurance claims. The Grand Jury found that these real estate and vehicle purchases allegedly involved fraud in which the buyers grossly inflated their incomes and submitted bogus federal income tax returns and W-2 forms. The defendants would then make no payments on the mortgages while renting out the properties and keeping the money. They also did not make payments on the vehicles and would switch them between ring members so the finance companies were unable to locate the vehicles to repossess them.
Sentences for convicted ring participants:
o Kyle Chaney, 21 – Sentenced July 21, 2008 to two years in prison consecutive to one year in prison from another case for one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and one count of theft.
o Corey Pack, 19 – Received a 30 day sentence on June 2 for one count of insurance fraud. This sentence was suspended.
o Allen Samsal, 23 – Sentenced July 31 to three years in prison for one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
o Jared Watson, 25 – Sentenced June 2 to six months in prison for one count of insurance fraud. This sentence was suspended.
o Eugene Willis, Jr., 38 – Sentenced four years in prison on July 31 for one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
o Randall Workman, 22 – Sentenced June 2 to 18 months in prison for two counts of insurance fraud and one count of theft. This sentence was suspended.
A Bill of Information has been filed against Alex Plank, 19, charging him with one count of theft. Granderson, 32, and Meagan Kurczewski, 25, are scheduled for trial on Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, respectively.
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