|
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General DeWine today filed a
lawsuit against 19 individuals and businesses affiliated with a defunct
Cleveland charter school. The lawsuit follows findings for recovery issued
last year by Ohio Auditor Dave Yost which found that more than $2 million was
illegally transferred from the Lion of Judah
Academy to its associates.
"Numerous Ohio families rely on charter schools to educate their children, and many do a great job,” said Attorney General DeWine. “However, when charter school operators’ conduct violates the law, we have an obligation to do whatever we can to recoup the money.”
“It takes a team to get justice, and I’m grateful for Attorney General DeWine’s aggressive action,” Auditor Yost said.
“The Department of Education revoked the sponsor’s ability to operate and subsequently closed this poor performing school,” said Dr. Richard A. Ross, state superintendent of public instruction at the Ohio Department of Education. “We applaud the efforts of Attorney General DeWine and Auditor Yost in pursing misspent public funds.”
Under Ohio law, government debt collectors normally have
only six years to collect debts owed pursuant to findings for recovery by the
Auditor of State. The lawsuit filed today in the Franklin County Court of
Common Pleas seeks to have the findings reduced to a court judgment, meaning
the debt can be collected beyond the statute of limitations.
The lawsuit also seeks damages resulting from the liability
of the operators in their roles as public officials and fiduciaries, and
pursuant to the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act.
Defendants include:
- Romey Coles of Medina
- Rosina Coles of Medina
- The Church of the Lion of Judah of Medina
- Latter Enterprises of Medina
- Latter Enterprises, LLC of Medina
- Sheryse Henderson of Shaker Heights
- Jon Henderson of Shaker Heights
- Promyse, Inc. of Shaker Heights
- Anthony Hendking of Bedford Heights
- Carlena Williams of Bedford Heights
- Karl King, LLC of Bedford Heights
- Chester Starks of Cleveland
- Anew Educational Services, LLC of Cleveland
- Trilana Bowling of Lakewood
- Carl Shye Jr. of New Albany
- Edward Dudley Jr. of Columbus
- Ken Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Stephen Sites of Ironton
- Ashe Cultural Center of Cleveland
- Samuel White, LLC of Cleveland
A copy of the lawsuit is available on the Ohio Attorney
General’s website.
–30–
| 
