Three men have been convicted of conspiring to commit federal program fraud.
A former Ohio State University employee sold surplus university assets for artificially low prices in exchange for kickbacks.
He and two of his customers have been charged federally and have pleaded guilty.
According to court documents, from 2009 until 2020, Michael Brammer, 59, of Pataskala, was employed by Ohio State University’s surplus department. As part of Brammer’s duties, he evaluated and classified used surplus university assets, such as computers.
Brammer falsely classified equipment as recyclable and sold them to two recycling vendors – Abraham Amira, 60, and Robert Howard, 73, both of Columbus – for artificially low prices. In return, Amira and Howard made cash payments directly to Brammer.
In total, Brammer received at least $650,000 in cash from Amira and Howard, which would have been revenue to the surplus department.
Throughout the course of the conspiracy, The Ohio State University received more than $10,000 in federal benefits each year through grants.
Amira pleaded guilty on Friday to crimes related to the surplus fraud and to separate COVID-19-related fraud schemes. Amira admitted to fraudulently receiving and spending more than $800,000 from various COVID-19 relief programs.
He pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring to commit federal program fraud and wire fraud.
Brammer and Howard both previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit fraud against a federal program.
Conspiracy to commit federal program fraud is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud carries a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.
