Cleveland, OH
Former Cleveland bank executive faces 45 sex crime charges dating back to 2004
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -A former senior vice president at First National Bank in Cleveland is facing 45 counts of sex crimes dating back two decades, including charges involving a five-year-old child.
Joseph Fragapane, 63, of Strongsville, was indicted in December and again this month on charges prosecutors said span from 2004 through 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to the December charges and is out on bond.
Investigation began with cyber tip
The case began when a cyber tip came into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The center sent the case to the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
“Our investigators began looking into that violation as well as what the conduct was and were able to determine that it was Joseph Fragapane committing these crimes,” said Megan Helton, an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, which runs Ohio ICAC.
Investigators said Fragapane uploaded nude images of children online, which linked back to his IP address.
Search warrant reveals additional victims
After serving a search warrant at his Strongsville home, investigators said they found more than just those images.
“As we continued to look through his devices, we were then able to determine that there were additional victims that were known to the defendant at different times in his life, and we were able to then talk with those individuals,” Helton said.
According to the indictment, the first victim was five years old and known to Fragapane. Prosecutors said between 2004 and 2005, he kidnapped her, sexually assaulted her and produced child sexual abuse material involving her.
The second victim, also someone he knew, was an adult. Prosecutors said in 2019, Fragapane secretly recorded her without her knowledge or consent, according to the indictment.
“One of the victims is an adult and one of the victims was a child at the time. And so when we see someone who is committing a variety of acts against really anyone he encounters, there is a concern that he was committing any offense that he had an opportunity to commit,” Helton said.
Additional charges involve photoshopped images
Fragapane also faces additional sex crime charges spanning from 2021 through 2025. Prosecutors said investigators found child sexual abuse material on his devices involving other children and women he knew personally.
“He would either obtain photos that he took himself, innocuous photos. So think holiday photos, think neighborhood photos, think cookout photos, where he would then take images of children’s heads and photoshop them onto nude bodies,” Helton said.
Here are the charges Fragapane faces, according to the indictment:
-Kidnapping- F1 (Count One)
-Gross Sexual Imposition- F3 (Counts 2 & 3)
-Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance- F2 (Counts 4-12)
-Voyeurism- M1 (Counts 13-15)
-Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person- F2
(Counts 16-25)
-Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance- F2
(Counts 26-44)
-Possessing Criminal Tools- F5 (Count 45)
19 Investigates reached out to Fragapane for comment. He has not responded.
A spokesperson for First National Bank said Fragapane no longer works at the bank. She said they “don’t comment on legal matters about current or former employees.”
Fragapane’s attorney told us he is retired and no longer employed. She said he plans to plead not guilty to the new charges.
Prosecutors warn of potential additional victims
As the case heads to court, prosecutors warn there may be more victims still unaccounted for.
“Someone who is in the community is well-trusted, is known by a lot of individuals. There is a concern that person takes advantage of those circumstances, and that’s certainly what we see in this case, that he had a position of power, he had a position of being well-liked in the community, and he is essentially exploiting that,” Helton said.
Fragapane will be arraigned on the new charges next Thursday.
Investigators ask anyone who believes they or their child may have been a victim of sexual assault or exploitation in this case to call the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Cleveland.
You can call the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office at 216-443-7800.
Need an investigation? Contact 19 Investigates with your request.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Stan Son provides the latest injury update for Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres on Monday, June 15.
In the top of the second inning of Monday’s game against the Houston Astros, Gleyber Torres was replaced by Hao-Yu Lee. Torres suffered an injury after swinging at the first pitch he saw. While no official designation has been given yet for the injury, Torres did grab at his oblique.
Earlier in the season, Torres missed a month due to an oblique injury.
Before exiting, Torres went 0-for-1 with a strikeout.
Since Torres exited prior to the completion of his second at-bat, he is eligible for DraftKings Early Exit.
Stay tuned to DK Network for live updates on his injury status.
CLEVELAND — Hemp-derived THC products are back at companies in Ohio after a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of Ohio’s new hemp licensing law.
“It’s been a long, hard-fought battle,” said Saucy Brew Works, Saucy Seltzer and Saucy Vibes CEO and co-founder Brent Zimmerman.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Zimmerman said hemp-derived THC drinks will be back at Saucy Brew Works in Cleveland’s Ohio City.
“We bring jobs back here, people’s choice back here. It was the fastest-growing product I’d ever seen in beverage since we’ve been open, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Zimmerman.
Back in March, News 5 told you Ohioans for Cannabis Choice didn’t collect enough signatures to repeal Republican-created marijuana restrictions and a total ban on intoxicating hemp products.
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
Effort to repeal marijuana restrictions, THC ban fails to make Ohio ballot
As a result, Senate Bill 56 went into effect across Ohio and hurt Zimmerman and dozens of business owners.
“Good-paying jobs all left, taxes all left, consumer choice all left,” said Zimmerman.
News 5 asked Zimmerman how his customers reacted to the adjustment.
“Some of them were very upset. Some of them didn’t think it was real,” said Zimmerman.
Even with these challenges, Zimmerman said his company and nine others refused to give up, so they filed a lawsuit against 96 county and municipal prosecutors’ offices.
Then on Monday, Zimmerman texted News 5’s Remi Murrey after a federal judge found Senate Bill 56 likely violates the Constitution because it requires products to be sourced, made and distributed only in Ohio, which blocks out-of-state sellers.
“There are 10 companies that were named as plaintiffs in this suit, so right now, those 10 are the only companies that can sell in the state,” said Zimmerman.
That means businesses like Verbena Free Spirited in Cleveland will have to wait unless she buys from one of 10 companies that sued the state.
According to Zimmerman, those 10 companies can make THC products and sell them to retailers.
“I’m a much smaller retail seller of THC beverages, but because I’m smaller, it impacted me really hard, and it’s something I would love to be able to start doing again,” said Cheraso.
Despite the judge’s ruling, Ohio lawmakers have argued that hemp products are unregulated and have no age requirement to buy.
“The products that are the edibles, primarily the stuff that’s unregulated, we don’t know where it came from. It’s also actually targeting children,” said Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) in February.
As the court reviews the case, the temporary restraining order will last for 14 days unless it is extended.
“We’ve been working with our representatives at the state and House of Representatives, and we’ve got a good rapport with them. We hope we get further along with them as well,” said Zimmerman.
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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio — A heavy law enforcement presence was in Brooklyn Heights on Monday for what authorities are calling a federal investigation.
The Department of Homeland Security said the Federal Protective Service was conducting a sweep of a lobby inside the Brooklyn Heights ICE office in the 900 block of Keynote Circle when a K-9 alerted to a “suspicious package” in a UPS drop box.
FPS contacted local law enforcement and initiated a full evacuation of the building, which Brooklyn Heights Mayor Mike Procuk told News 5 is home to several offices, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Weather Service and the Visiting Nurse Association.
“I was on the phone walking down the street, and they got me and pulled me over this way, got me away from the blast zone,” said Mike Gallagher, who was on his way to interview candidates for apprenticeships just before noon.
An office building across the street was also evacuated.
“We got a knock on the door. Everyone has to evacuate,” said Cru Leavitt, who owns EcoShield Pest Solutions. “Not much was said, just get out of the building.”
DHS said the situation has been resolved, and an all-clear was given to reoccupy the building.
“It’s scary; it’s a little eerie feeling,” said Leavitt.
A DHS spokesperson has not responded to questions about whether an explosive device was found or whether any crime was committed.
“It’s a scary world we live in, and this is a little close to home,” said Gallagher.
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