Federal agents said on Wednesday, September 23 that a Los Angeles man took more than $7 million from an Ohio couple over years, and they have the checks to prove it.
Story Highlights
- Federal charge alleges a $7 million fraud against a Massillon, Ohio couple
- Court records say the defendant was arrested in California
- Bank records show 70 checks sent from 2019 through July 2026
- Investigators say the total loss likely exceeds $7 million
Federal Charge Centers on Years of Payments and a Rising Loss Total
Prosecutors charged a Los Angeles man in federal court in Cleveland, saying he defrauded a Massillon couple of more than $7 million. Court records say agents arrested him in California. An agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation wrote that investigators are still counting the loss, and it likely tops the headline amount. The case turns on money flows over time and alleged deceit, not a single failed deal or late payment, according to the reporting on the court file.
Bank records cited in the filings show a long pattern of payments by the husband to the defendant. The records list 70 checks sent between 2019 and July 2026. The amounts ranged from about seven thousand dollars to three hundred thousand dollars. That spread and duration match a known pattern in fraud cases: repeat payments driven by growing trust or pressure, which often lead to large losses before victims pull back or authorities step in.
What He Told Them The Money Was For
Court filings described by Cleveland.com and Hoodline name the defendant as Steven Comisar, 64, of Los Angeles, a man who calls himself the “Don of Con.” According to that reporting, Comisar impersonated various figures to solicit money for a bitcoin project, a casino and resort, and something he called the Macau Group. He allegedly told the couple they had to send cashier’s checks to cover fees, taxes or fabricated government fines before their profits could be released. In one instance, he allegedly claimed a $98,000 Chinese government fine had to be paid to unlock $25 million in investment profits.
The same reporting says Comisar has five prior federal fraud convictions and has served more than 22 years in prison for schemes that included telemarketing scams and fake oil-well investments. Since 2023 he has hosted a podcast about scams called “The Scam Junkie.” Prosecutors allege he spent the couple’s money on gambling, hotels, food and other personal expenses, wagering about $4 million at Santa Anita Park between January and May 2026 and winning $1.2 million there.
Why This Fits a Common Fraud Playbook Seen by Investigators
Fraud research and government summaries describe a cycle where victims are drawn into ongoing transfers. Offenders build personal ties, shift to private channels, and keep asking for more. Victims often pay again because they hope to recover earlier losses or because the relationship feels credible. That repeat victim pattern has been documented across many cases and regions, which helps explain how losses can pile up over months or years.
Enforcement records also show that federal fraud cases now often feature high loss amounts and heavy use of bank tracing. Prosecutors rely on check images, ledgers, and deposit trails to show intent and use of funds. National summaries reported rising defendant counts and larger alleged loss totals in recent years, reflecting a Justice Department push to bring more complex fraud cases with detailed accounting as a core proof tool.
What Authorities Say They Can Prove Now, and What Comes Next
Authorities point to the check history, the size of transfers, and the timeline to claim this was an intentional fraud. Reported details include the arrest location, the number of checks, and the range of amounts. The government charged the case as fraud in United States District Court, which means the evidence will face a judge and, if needed, a jury. As always, a charge is not a conviction, and the defense will have a chance to respond in court.
The stakes are larger than one family’s loss. Many readers on the left and the right see a system that struggles to stop fraud early and to get money back. Government reviews have found that most fraud dollars are never recovered, which fuels anger that the powerful game the system while regular people pay the price. That shared concern is part of why federal fraud enforcement has become more aggressive in recent years.
Sources:
hoodline.com, cleveland.com, aarp.org, justice.gov
