News Releases

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned Ohioans to beware of callers who pretend to be from Medicare and ask for personal information. Several Ohio consumers have reported potential Medicare scams to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. While many consumers recognize the scam and hang up on the caller, others do not realize the ploy until they have already provided their personal information.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine applauded today’s passage of legislation in the Ohio Senate that strengthens laws pertaining to cyber fraud. Senate Bill 223, which was approved unanimously, gives the Attorney General’s Office authority to investigate cyber fraud crimes and prepare cases for local prosecution.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Yvonne Alexander was sentenced to 18 months in prison for Medicaid fraud in the theft of $53,000 in benefit income from a resident of Graceworks Lutheran Services group home, which serves developmentally disabled individuals.

(LONDON, Ohio)—On Monday, 29 seniors from the Phyllis A. Ernst Senior Center in Hilliard traveled to London, Ohio for a tour of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The seniors were given a first-hand look at the tools, technology, and expertise used by BCI to investigate and solve Ohio’s most difficult crimes and cold cases.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced Kathleen Kinsella of Stark County will be sentenced December 21, after pleading guilty to theft involving a ticket scam on craigslist. In Stark County Common Pleas Court, Kinsella admitted to stealing $5,499 from multiple victims from December 2009 through May 2011.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason announced that Virgen Caraballo plead guilty today to seven counts of Patient Abuse, felonies of the fourth degree. As part of her plea, Caraballo is required to relinquish her STNA (State Tested Nursing Aid) Certification and cannot work in a facility that is a Medicaid recipient. Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2012, at 10:00 am in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

As Ohioans prepare for the holiday season, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today shared consumer tips and information to help avoid shopping season scammers’ attempts to ruin your holiday celebration. DeWine also revealed smart shopper secrets for spending.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Ohio has joined with 42 other states and the federal government in reaching an agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. to settle civil and criminal allegations that Merck marketed its drug Vioxx for uses not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), misrepresented the cardiovascular safety issues relating to the drug, and otherwise made false and misleading representations about Vioxx.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced his support for legislation which would create a statewide Blue Alert system in Ohio to assist in cases where law enforcement have been injured or killed in the line of duty. Attorney General DeWine was joined at a news conference announcing the legislation by bill sponsor, State Senator Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville), and State Senator Tom Patton (R-Strongsville), whose son was a Cleveland Heights Police Officer who died in the line of duty in 2010.

Former Delaware County Commissioner Todd Hanks pled guilty today in Delaware County Municipal Court to Ethics Law violations. Bradford Tammaro, of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigation Commission, and Paul Nick, Executive Director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, were appointed as Special Prosecutors in the case.