Ohio

Central Ohio car dealerships accused of withholding vehicle titles, altering odometers

Published

11 months ago

January 29, 2025

Central Ohio car dealerships accused of withholding vehicle titles, altering odometers

Two central Ohio auto dealerships are facing civil lawsuits filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, accusing them of altering odometer readings, failing to turn over titles to dozens of customers who purchased vehicles, and several other consumer protection violations.

The lawsuits — one filed in Franklin County and the other in Delaware County — accuse each dealership of violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act, the Certificate of Motor Vehicles Act, and the Odometer Rollback and Disclosure Act.

The suit filed in Delaware County Common Pleas Court accuses Johnathan Paul Kirkham, operator of Kirkham’s Starfleet Cars, 525 N Sandusky St. in Delaware city, of failing to properly transfer titles to consumers who bought vehicles from the dealership.

According to Yost, there are 32 title-related complaints in connection with Starfleet, and the state will use $138,135 from the state’s Title Defect Recission Fund to reimburse eligible consumers while the Attorney General’s Office pursues legal action against Kirkham’s.

Way 2 Go Auto Sales, 4660 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, operated by Kofi Bimpeh, is accused of failing to provide vehicle titles, altering odometer readings, and misrepresenting rebuilt salvage vehicles in a lawsuit filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. The Attorney General’s office reports they received 20 complaints related to title issues, misrepresentations about salvage vehicles, return policy issues and odometer discrepancies with vehicles.

Way 2 Go Auto Sales and Kirkham’s Starfleet Cars could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Listed phone numbers for both dealerships appeared to be disconnected.

“Ohioans work hard and deserve to get what they pay for,” Yost said in a prepared release. “Whether it’s a deliberate title delay or outright fraud, my office will pump the breaks on dealership scams.”

smeighan@dispatch.com

@ShahidMeighan

Source link

Click to comment

Ohio

Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the second time in two years, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Steubenville Police Department have joined forces to combat human trafficking crimes.

In October, the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals for sex trafficking offenses, including men from Follansbee and St. Clairsville.

Earlier, in July 2024, 10 men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia were apprehended and charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools.

“It just goes to show that human trafficking happens everywhere,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This isn’t a big city thing, it happens in small towns, it happens out in the country. It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us.

“I am hopeful that the message is going out around Ohio and Steubenville and the Mahoning Valley — Don’t Buy Sex in Ohio!”

He also highlighted the support provided to survivors during these operations.

“We always have social service providers that partner with us that are on site. So, whether it’s something simple like a meal or a shower or something as necessary as an addiction treatment bed — we’re there to try and help provide the resource,” Yost added.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

For those affected by human trafficking, a victim services directory is available here.

Source link

Ohio

3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials

Published

20 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials

NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three kids, ages 12, 11, and 8, led Ohio police on a chase in a stolen car on Saturday, according to police.

According to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, an 11-year-old was driving a car that was stolen from Parma, WEWS reported.

Officers chased the car on Harvard Avenue west over the Denison Bridge. Shortly after the chase began, the car crashed into a house on Denison Avenue, police said.

No injuries were reported.

Newburgh Heights PD said two brothers, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, along with a 12-year-old, began running from the police.

After police caught them, the kids told officers they watched YouTube videos to learn how to steal cars, police said.

According to the department, the boys were released to their parents, and police will file charges in juvenile court.

Source link

Ohio

Ohio State vs Miami betting odds, point spread for Cotton Bowl game

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State vs Miami betting odds, point spread for Cotton Bowl game

Heading to Arlington, Texas, for the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State enters the New Year’s Eve College Football Playoff game as a multi-score favorite to beat Miami, according to BetMGM on Dec. 22.

Ohio State is the No. 2 seed in the 2025 CFP and received a first-round bye. After beating No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Miami will face the Buckeyes for the first time since 2011. The Hurricanes are the lone ACC representative in the CFP field.

Miami intercepted Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed in the end zone with less than 30 seconds remaining to secure a first-round playoff win.

Buy Cotton Bowl tickets

See the betting odds for the Cotton Bowl below.