Bradley et al v. Miller et al

Filing 260

ORDER: (1) GRANTING DEFENDANT CURTIS POWELL'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 198 ); (2) GRANTING DEFENDANT JAMES WILBURN POWELL'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 205 ); AND (3) GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART PLAINTIFFS DIANA AN D JAMES BRADLEY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 208 ). Within fourteen days of the entry date of this Order, Plaintiffs shall advise the Court in writing whether they intend to pursue their remaining claims. The determination of James D. Po well's and Kevin Miller's damages also remains pending before the Court. Plaintiffs shall evidence their damages and attorneys fees as against James D. Powell and Kevin Miller by filing a verified pleading within twenty-one days of the entr y date of this Order, and James D. Powell and Kevin Miller shall respond in opposition within fourteen days of that filing. Plaintiffs may reply within ten days. Signed by Judge Timothy S. Black on 3/30/2015. (mr1)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
DIANA BRADLEY, et al.,

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Plaintiffs
vs.
KEVIN MILLER, et al.,
Defendants.

Case No. 1:10-cv-760
Judge Timothy S. Black

ORDER:
(1) GRANTING DEFENDANT CURTIS POWELL’S MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 198);
(2) GRANTING DEFENDANT JAMES WILBURN POWELL’S MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 205); AND
(3) GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART
PLAINTIFFS DIANA AND JAMES BRADLEY’S MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Doc. 208)
This civil action is before the Court on (1) Defendant Curtis Powell’s motion for
summary judgment (Doc. 198), (2) Defendant James Wilburn Powell’s motion for
summary judgment (Doc. 205), (3) Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 208),
and the parties’ responsive memoranda (Docs. 217, 221, 227, 242, 243, 244, and 245).
I.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs Diana and James Bradley allege they were the victims of a real estate
securities Ponzi scheme in which they lost at least $134,354.46. 1 Plaintiff Cora Pyles

1

James Bradley passed away during this litigation and his wife Diana was substituted as his
fiduciary on June 11, 2013.

alleges she lost $50,000 in a separate investment. 2 Plaintiffs first filed this action on
October 29, 2010. (Doc. 1). Twenty months later on May 17, 2012, Plaintiffs filed an
amended complaint asserting a total of twelve claims against ten Defendants, including
five new Defendants first named in the amended complaint. (Doc. 46). The claims
against three individual Defendants have since been dismissed, and those persons are no
longer parties to this litigation. 3
Four individuals and three business entities remain as Defendants. The individual
Defendants include James D. Powell (“James D.”), James Wilburn Powell (“James
Wilburn”), Curtis Powell (“Curtis”), and Kevin Miller. James D. was the president of the
three business entity Defendants, Capital Investments (“CI”), Great Miami Debentures
(“GMD”), and Great Miami Real Estate, LLC (“GMRE”). (Doc. 208, Ex. 9). James
Wilburn is the father of James D. and the uncle of Curtis. James D. and Curtis are
cousins.
Count one of the amended complaint is asserted by Pyles against Miller for
violations of section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78j, and Rule 10b5, 17 C.F.R § 240.10b-5. (Doc. 46 at 28-29). This is the only claim brought by Pyles,
and it is not part of the summary judgment motions before the Court. (Doc. 182). The
remaining counts were originally pleaded by the Bradleys against all ten Defendants.

2

Diana Bradley is the attorney-in-fact for her mother Cora Pyles and proceeds on her behalf.
(Doc. 182 at 2).
3

Pursuant to separate joint motions to dismiss, Hubert Rials and Deanna Powell were dismissed
with prejudice on October 7, 2013 and December 13, 2013, respectively. Subsequently, on
January 2, 2014, Chatsworth Jacobs was dismissed without prejudice.
2

Counts two through five of the amended complaint assert violations of each of the
four subsections of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
(“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1962. Counts six and seven assert a violation and a conspiracy to
violate the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act (“OCPA”), Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.32. Counts
eight, nine, and ten assert claims for fraud, breach of contract, and negligence. Count
eleven asserts a claim for fraudulent transfer under Ohio law, Ohio Rev. Code § 1336.04,
and count twelve asserts a common law claim for civil conspiracy. By stipulation,
Plaintiffs have narrowed the scope of the claims against James Wilburn and Curtis to
OCPA, OCPA conspiracy, fraudulent transfer, and civil conspiracy. (Docs. 76, 87).
Defendants CI, GMD, and GMRE failed to answer or otherwise defend in this
case and, on August 22, 2013, the Court entered default judgment as to liability and
damages. (Doc. 188). The Court found that Defendants CI, GMD, and GMRE were
jointly and severally liable for $403,063.40 in damages, plus an additional amount,
to be determined, of attorney’s fees and costs. (Id. at 5). 4
Now pending before the Court are three motions for summary judgment. James
Wilburn and Curtis move for judgment as a matter of law on the four claims asserted
against them. (Docs. 198, 205). Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment
against the four remaining individual Defendants. (Doc. 208). Specifically, Plaintiffs
filed a cross motion for summary judgment against James Wilburn and Curtis on the
OCPA and OCPA conspiracy claims. (Doc. 208). Plaintiffs also move for summary

4

The Court will address Plaintiffs’ pending motion for attorney’s fees and costs (Doc. 237) by
separate entry.
3

judgment against James D. and Miller on their claims for OCPA, OCPA conspiracy, and
one RICO count. (Id.) 5
James D. and Miller did not respond to the summary judgment motion filed
against them. Prior to moving for summary judgment, Plaintiffs filed motions for
adverse inferences against James D. and Miller after both refused to answer questions at
their depositions based on their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
(Docs. 187, 192). Neither filed a responsive memorandum. After dispositive motion
briefing closed, the Court granted the motions and drew adverse inferences on forty-eight
questions asked to James D. and seventy-three questions asked to Miller. (Doc. 250). 6
II.
A.

UNDISPUTED FACTS

Criminal Charges

James D. and Miller pled guilty to federal criminal charges, 7 based on their
involvement in the real estate securities Ponzi scheme that now forms the basis for this
civil action. Specifically, James D. and Miller both pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy
to commit mail fraud; James D. pled guilty to an additional charge of wire fraud; and
Miller pled guilty to obstruction of investigation. As part of their plea agreements, each
signed a statement of facts admitting to the underlying conduct. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1; Doc.

5

Counts two through five alleged RICO claims under each of the four provisions of 18 U.S.C.
§ 1962. (Doc. 46 at 29). However, as the Court discusses more fully infra, Plaintiffs only
moved for summary judgment on count four, which alleges a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).
6

An adverse inference applies only against that particular Defendant.

7

United States v. Kevin Miller, 1:09-cr-176 (S.D. Ohio); United States v. James D. Powell, 1:10cr-75 (S.D. Ohio).
4

208, Ex. 9). 8 On November 20, 2009, Miller signed his statement of facts and admitted
to his role in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 80 victims out of over $7.3
million. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1 at 2, 4). On June 2, 2010, James D. also admitted to his role in
the Ponzi scheme, which at that time was calculated to have defrauded over 90 victims
out of a total of $9.2 million. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 8).
The Ponzi scheme began to form in approximately 2002 when James D. formed
CI, GMD, and GMRE. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 1). James D. and his wife transferred real
estate valued at over $2 million to GMRE in 2002. (Doc. 163 at 28). GMRE purchased,
sold, and managed a portfolio of real estate properties. (Id. at 16). CI held itself out as
an investment company offering attractive rates of return on investments evidenced by
promissory notes that were purportedly backed by the real estate portfolio of properties
owned and managed by either CI or GMRE. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 1). GMD purported to
issue mortgage security promissory notes on real estate properties owned by GMRE. (Id.
at 2).
James D.’s statement of facts indicates that promissory notes and mortgage
security notes evidencing an investment backed by a debt instrument, such as those
offered by CI and GMD throughout the course of the investment scheme, constitute
securities within the meaning of federal and state securities laws. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 2).
Securities laws require that any firm offering the sale of securities must be registered and
any person selling securities must be licensed as a securities salesperson. (Id.) CI, GMD,
8

James D. and Miller were prosecuted in separate cases and each statement of facts refers to two
unnamed co-conspirators. However, it is undisputed that James D., Miller, and David Colwell
were members of the same conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
5

and GMRE were not registered with the Ohio Division of Securities to sell securities.
(Id.) James D. was never licensed as a securities salesperson. (Id.) Miller and Colwell
were previously licensed as securities salespersons, but in 1999 and 2001 they were
ordered by the Ohio Division of Securities to cease and desist in the sale of fraudulent
unregistered securities. (Id.) Both surrendered their licenses at the time and were not
registered securities salespersons when they sold the securities offered by CI and GMD.
(Id.)
Around 2002, James D. and David Colwell, who was the owner of Midwest
Marketing Alliance (“MMA”), agreed to a plan using their respective business entities.
(Doc. 163 at 27). 9 Colwell recruited investors, while James D. purchased and managed
real estate. (Id.) Miller became involved in 2004 or 2005 when he began to work as a
salesperson for CI recruiting investors and selling securities. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1 at 5).
Miller sought investors for CI and GMD by falsely representing that the investments
were safe and would be backed by income-producing properties owned by a local real
estate development firm. (Id.)
The Ponzi scheme primarily targeted elderly, unsophisticated, and inexperienced
investors. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1 at 1; Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 3). The victims were induced to roll
over their pre-existing IRA’s into investments in promissory notes or debt investments
offered by CI and GMD. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 3). James D. and Colwell arranged for

9

Despite knowing that Colwell died in March 2008, Plaintiffs named Colwell and MMA as
Defendants in their original complaint. (Doc. 1 at ¶ 11). The Court was forced to issue several
orders before Plaintiffs finally conceded that they had no intention of pursuing those claims.
(Docs. 21, 28, 33).
6

Fiserv, an unaffiliated and presumably innocent entity, to serve as the IRA
trustee/custodian for self-directed IRA accounts. (Id. at 2-3). On November 3, 2004,
James D. executed a Declaration of Administrative Feasibility to establish retirement plan
accounts with Fiserv for investments into CI and GMD. (Id. at 3). James D. falsely
agreed on behalf of CI and GMD to provide investors “with all information and
documentation regarding their investments.” (Id. at 4). Fiserv served as the
trustee/custodian over the investors’ IRA accounts for tax purposes only. (Id.) Colwell
was named as the Servicing Agent, which is required to be a “disinterested independent
third party entity or individual,” to carry out certain responsibilities on behalf of the note
holders or investors. (Id. at 3) Most importantly, the Servicing Agent was tasked with
overseeing repayments to investors. (Id. at 4). In reality, Colwell personally obtained the
investors’ funds and converted them to further the Ponzi scheme and for Defendants’ own
personal use. (Id.)
James D. and Miller admitted to participation in a conspiracy that made false
representations and promises, and failed to disclose known material information, to
investors in order to induce them to invest money in CI and GMD. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 46). Specifically, the conspirators falsely promised guaranteed annual interest rates that
exceeded the investors’ current investment rates and falsely represented that the
investments were safe and 100% guaranteed. (Id. at 4) Further, the conspirators falsely
represented that the investments were backed by equity in real estate purchased or
developed with investor monies and owned by CI or GMRE. (Id. at 4-5). However,
many of the properties were not even owned by CI or GMRE. (Id.) James D. prepared at
7

least two versions of a document titled Real Estate Portfolio, which purported to list the
properties backing the investments in CI by address, value, debt, income, and monthly
payment. (Id. at 5; Doc. 246, Ex. A). The first version of the Real Estate Portfolio dated
December 3, 2002 falsely stated that CI owned thirteen properties with a total value of
$4.8 million. (Doc. 246, Ex. A at 1-2). The final version dated September 15, 2007
falsely stated that CI had increased its portfolio to forty properties with an overall equity
of approximately $10.5 million. (Id. at 3-7). A number of properties listed in the Real
Estate Portfolio were not owned by CI or GMRE, and the property value and equity were
falsely inflated. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 5). By November 2007, the few properties actually
owned by CI or GMRE lacked substantial equity, were in a state of disrepair, were in
default, or were in various stages of foreclosure. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 5).
By November 2007, the Ponzi scheme had squandered the investors’ money.
(Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 5). Nonetheless, CI and GMD continued to produce monthly account
statements falsely listing each investor’s principal investment and interest earned. (Id.)
James D., Miller, and Colwell scrambled each month to come up money to make monthly
interest payments to certain investors. (Id.) The Ponzi scheme continued to solicit new
investors, using that money to make interest payments to earlier investors and keeping the
remainder for their own personal living expenses. (Id. at 5-6).
James D., as president of CI, sent periodic letters to investors assuring them that
their investments were doing well. (Id. at 6). On January 8, 2008, James D. sent a letter
falsely stating that CI was an active player in the investment industry and was producing
yields well above the market average. (Id.) In late January 2008, the investors’ money
8

was completely gone, leaving CI and GMD unable to make any monthly interest
payments. (Id. at 8). Colwell refused to continue to contact investors and demanded that
his address be removed from the companies’ materials. (Id. at 8). On February 5, 2008,
James D. wrote a letter to investors advising them of a “minor change” in the mailing
address of CI due to “some restructuring within the company,” but provided no indication
that the investors’ money was completely gone. (Id.) On March 4, 2008, Colwell
committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. (Doc. 108-8, Ex. 1 at ¶ 4; Doc. 162 at
18; Doc. 200 at 139).
On January 10, 2010, Miller entered a guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to
commit mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and obstruction of investigation in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1). He was sentenced to fifteen months
imprisonment.
On June 28, 2010, James D. pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. (Doc.
208, Ex. 9). The wire fraud conviction resulted from a series of real estate purchases and
mortgage loan applications completed between 2000 and 2005. (Id. at 8-10). In 2000,
James D. purchased a total of six properties for $750,000. (Id. at 8). The purchase price
was financed through multiple bank mortgage loans and a promissory note and mortgage
with the sellers. (Id.) On October 15, 2003, James D. defaulted on a balloon payment on
the loan from the sellers, instead making on monthly interest payments. (Id. at 9). In
November 2005, James D. sought to refinance one of the properties purchased in 2000.
(Id.) On November 14, 2005, James D. signed a mortgage loan application that falsely
9

inflated his income, listed a non-existent asset, and failed to disclose a substantial
outstanding loan in default. (Id. at 10). In total, the banks and the real estate sellers lost
$944,848 from James D.’s wire fraud scheme. (Id.)
On September 28, 2010, James D. was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment.
James Wilburn made a brief, unsworn statement at his son’s sentencing hearing in an
attempt to offer mitigating factors. (Doc. 205, Ex. B at 33-37).
B.

Bradleys’ Involvement in the Investment Scheme

Plaintiffs Diana and James Bradley first met Miller in 1996 when Miller was
selling insurance. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶¶ 4-5). 10 Miller sold insurance policies to the Bradleys
and helped them establish a trust. (Id.) On Miller’s recommendation, James Bradley
transferred approximately $66,000 into an annuity with Northwestern Insurance
Company. (Id. at ¶ 7).
In 2005, the Bradleys contacted Miller for assistance in making a change to James
Bradley’s Northwestern annuity, which at that time had grown in value to $88,362.23.
(Doc. 173-1 at ¶¶ 19, 23). Diana Bradley also had an annuity worth $45,990.77. (Id. at
¶ 28). Miller used the opportunity to pitch the Bradleys on the benefits of investing in CI.
(Id. at ¶ 20). Miller told the Bradleys that CI was invested in locally-owned real estate,
10

Diana Bradley’s affidavit contains a significant number of conclusions of law as well as factual
statements not based on her personal knowledge and. (Doc. 173 at ¶¶ 85-249, 252). “When
ultimate facts or conclusions of law appear in an affidavit which also contains the proper subject
of affidavit testimony, facts within the personal knowledge of the affiant, the extraneous material
should be disregarded, and only the facts considered.” A.L. Pickens Co., Inc. v. Youngstown
Sheet & Tube Co., 650 F.2d 118, 121 (6th Cir. 1981). Accordingly, the Court disregards those
portions of the affidavit and only considers paragraphs 1-84 and 250-51. The Court similarly
disregards the portions of her deposition testimony, which is too extensive to list here, that are
not based on personal knowledge or contain conclusions of law. (See, e.g., Doc. 203 at 118-21).
10

that CI’s guaranteed interest rate of 6.65% exceeded their current annuities, and that CI
was a very safe investment. (Id. at ¶¶ 20-26; Doc. 192, Ex. A at 5). Based on their
discussions with Miller, the Bradleys transferred their annuities, worth a total of
$134,353, to investments with CI. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶¶ 23, 28).
On June 1, 2005, the Bradleys received account statements from CI signed by
James D. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 29). Diana Bradley also received statements from Fiserv,
which stated that her money had been transferred to GMD promissory notes. (Id. at
¶ 35). The Bradleys continued to receive periodic statements from CI and Fiserv from
June 2005 to May 2008. (Id. at ¶ 37).
On May 22, 2008, Diana Bradley received a letter from Fiserv stating that the
GMD promissory notes where her money was invested had been administratively
dissolved. (Doc. 110-18 at 20; Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 38). An account statement dated
September 30, 2008 provided that Diana Bradley’s Fiserv IRA account had a balance of
$55.58. (Doc. 110-18 at 21).
In June 2008, the Bradleys received written questionnaires from the Ohio
Department of Commerce, Division of Securities requesting information about their
investments in CI. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 46). The Bradleys contacted Miller for assistance in
completing the questionnaires, signed the questionnaires in blank, and then permitted
Miller to complete and return the questionnaires on his own. (Id. at ¶ 47; Doc. 192, Ex. 1
at 7). Miller falsely stated on the questionnaires that Colwell had recruited the Bradleys
to invest in CI. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 50; Doc. 192, Ex. 1 at 7). This conduct resulted in
Miller’s criminal conviction for obstruction of investigation. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1 at 7).
11

C.

James Wilburn

In December 2002, James Wilburn and his wife Betty Powell entered into a Land
Contract to sell a mobile home park called Midwest to GMRE for $600,000. (Doc. 198,
Ex. A). The Land Contract required James D. to make a $100,000 down payment and
pay the remaining balance in $4,000 monthly payments at 6% interest. (Id. at ¶ 2).
James Wilburn and Betty retained title to Midwest until GMRE paid the full balance of
the purchase price. (Id. at ¶ 16). The Land Contract prohibited GMRE from assigning its
interest without consent. (Id. at ¶¶ 7, 17). James D. made timely monthly payments of
$4,000 from January 2003 to April 2006, which amounted to over $160,000 in payments.
(Doc. 200 at 59-60).
On May 1, 2007, after James D. failed to make several monthly payments on
Midwest, James Wilburn and James D. executed a Mutual Release of Land Contract,
which cancelled the 2002 Land Contract for Midwest. (Doc. 198, Ex. G). The Mutual
Release of Land contract recited that James D. owed over $466,000 on Midwest, that
James D. failed to make the required monthly installment payments since May 2006 and
had failed to pay the real estate taxes since 2005, and that James Wilburn had loaned
$120,000 to James D. (Id.) On June 28, 2007, James D. executed a Quit Claim Deed on
behalf of GMRE to transfer any remaining interest in Midwest to his parents James
Wilburn and Betty. (Doc. 208-16). Also on June 28, 2007, James Wilburn transferred
Midwest to Curtis through a General Warranty Deed. (Doc. 198, Ex. O).
James Wilburn and Betty made several loans or payments to their son James D. in
2006 and 2007. On November 10, 2006; December 21, 2006; June 29, 2007; and April 4,
12

2008, James Wilburn wrote four checks to James D. for a total of $80,500. (Doc. 208-20;
Doc. 216, Ex. 23 at 23, 26, 44). Three of the checks were made payable to James D.
personally, while the $32,500 check dated June 29, 2007 was made payable to CI. (Doc.
208-20). On September 14, 2006, Betty transferred $10,000 from her First Financial
checking account to James D. (Doc. 216, Ex. 23 at 13). On November 1, 2006, Betty
transferred another $20,000 to James D. (Id. at 22). Between September 6, 2007 and
October 15, 2007, Betty purchased four cashier’s checks totaling $59,000 from her Fifth
Third account made payable to James D. (Id. at 35, 37, 40, 41). Betty first opened her
Fifth Third checking account in July 2007 and the account was solely in her name, James
Wilburn was not authorized to make transactions. (Doc. 200 at 112).
D.

Curtis

Curtis moved from Georgia to Ohio in 2003. (Doc. 195 at 96). Between 2003 and
2006, he saw his cousin James D. very infrequently, typically only on Christmas Eve and
at the large church both attended. (Id. at 12). In the summer of 2006, Curtis worked
construction for a company that purchased, refurbished, and then resold foreclosed
homes. (Doc. 195 at 8). Curtis also assisted in finding and viewing foreclosed homes for
the company to purchase. (Id. at 8-9). Curtis had never owned rental property, but he
had a long-standing interest in doing so and kept an eye out for a property to personally
purchase. (Id.)
Curtis found a six-family apartment for sale by the owner and was quoted a price.
(Doc. 195 at 9-10). No knowing whether this was a fair price, Curtis sought the opinion
of his cousin James D., whom Curtis thought owned two nearby 12-family apartment
13

complexes (Id.) James D. said it was not a good price, and the two did not speak again
for quite some time. (Id.)
Several weeks later, in late September or early October 2006, Curtis was
performing construction work on a home listed for sale by his employer when James D.’s
daughter and son-in-law came to view it. (Doc. 195 at 8, 10-11). About one week later,
James D. called Curtis to arrange to view the home himself. (Id. at 10-11). James D.
invited Curtis to lunch afterwards, which Curtis thought was to continue their
conversation about the house. (Id. at 11-12).
James D. used the lunch to pitch Curtis on an investment opportunity. (Doc. 163
at 122-23; Doc. 195 at 13-14). James D. told Curtis that he had entered a land contract
with his father James Wilburn in 2002 to purchase Midwest for $600,000, that he made a
$100,000 down payment, and that he owed another $425,000. (Doc. 163 at 122-26; Doc.
195 at 13-14). James D. told Curtis that he owned several other properties and could use
Curtis’ help to manage and maintain Midwest. (Doc. 163 at 122-26; Doc. 195 at 13-15).
James D. also told Curtis that he planned to refinance Midwest to help purchase another
mobile home park called 8000 Hamilton. (Doc. 195 at 14-15). Then James D. told
Curtis that the two could be equal partners on Midwest, which James D. said was worth
$725,000, if Curtis came up with $50,000,. (Doc. 163 at 122-23; Doc. 195 at 14-15).
James D. said he would put Curtis’ $50,000 in an interest bearing savings or escrow
account while James D. arranged the refinancing. (Doc. 195 at 15). Curtis, who
expected the lunch conversation to center on whether James D.’s daughter should
purchase the house, was caught completely off guard and asked for time to think over
14

James D.’s investment offer. (Id.) James D. did not mention that he was in default on the
Midwest installment payments, that he did not hold title to Midwest, or that the other
properties he owned were in various stages of foreclosure. (Id.)
James D. called Curtis about a week later to follow up on the investment offer.
(Doc. 195 at 15-16). Curtis spoke with his father about the opportunity and then
requested further information from James D. (Id.) James D. told Curtis that Midwest
brought in $9,000 per month in rent, that the installment payments were $4,000 per
month, and that the utility payments were such that Midwest turned a profit each month.
(Id. at 15-17). Curtis returned again to his father, who agreed to loan Curtis the $50,000
because he felt that Curtis’ grandfather would be happy that the cousins were going into
business together. (Id. at 17).
Curtis wrote a $50,000 check to James D. on October 18, 2006. (Doc. 195 at 1718; Doc. 198, Ex. B). The two opened a joint checking account for their purported
business and Curtis deposited $50 from his personal account. (Doc. 195 at 17-18).
James D. told Curtis that he deposited the $50,000 check in a separate savings or escrow
account to accrue interest before it went towards a down payment on 8000 Hamilton.
(Doc. 195 at 15, 17-19, 31, 134-35). In reality, James D. spent the $50,000 almost
immediately, something Curtis did not learn until late March 2007. (Id. at 31, 135-35).
On November 13, 2006, Curtis met with Barbara Hoffman from Coldstream Financial
Services to apply for financing in anticipation of purchasing 8000 Hamilton. (Doc. 218
at ¶ 10).

15

On December 29, 2006, Curtis and James D. officially formed a company called
C&J Property Enterprises, LLC. (Doc. 198, Ex. C). James D. worked with an attorney to
draft the paperwork, which Curtis did not see or know about prior to the day of signing.
(Doc. 195 at 104-07). An Operating Agreement and attached Exhibit 8.1 set forth their
respective contributions and provided that each would hold a 50% interest. (Id., Exs. C
and D). Curtis’ contribution was the $50,000 delivered to James D. two months earlier,
which Curtis was unaware had already been spent. (Id., Ex. D). James D.’s contribution
was to be $50,000 in equity gained from the future refinancing of Midwest and two other
properties. (Id.) According to the agreement, James D. would refinance the properties
and then transfer them to C&J, with James D. to retain any excess proceeds. (Id.)
However, Curtis and James D. had a verbal agreement that the excess proceeds from the
refinancing would go towards the down payment on 8000 Hamilton. (Doc. 195 at 108).
Curtis had not heard about the other two properties set forth in the Operating Agreement.
(Id. at 106-08). James D. told Curtis that the bank had made a mistake with a mortgage
payment on those properties, but assured Curtis that he would resolve the matter soon.
(Id.) Unbeknownst to Curtis, those properties were already foreclosed upon and James
D. held no interest at the time. (Id. at 105-09).
On January 1, 2007, James D. and Curtis signed an Assignment of Land Contract
drafted by James D. (Doc. 198, Ex. E). The contracted purported to assign Midwest
from GMRE to C&J. (Id.) Curtis gave James D. the assignment to file with the
recorder’s office. (Doc. 195 at 27, 110, 153, 184; Doc. 198, Ex. E). Curtis thought that
C&J owned Midwest on January 1, 2007 and began managing and maintaining Midwest
16

for the next three months. (Doc. 195 at 26, 154). However, the assignment had no effect
because the Land Contract required James Wilburn and Betty to consent to any
assignment. (Doc. 198, Ex. A at ¶¶ 7, 17)). James D. had never shown the Land Contract
to Curtis, and Curtis was unaware that it contained an anti-assignment provision. (Doc.
195 at 14-15). James Wilburn had not given consent and did not learn about the
purported assignment until late March 2007. (Doc. 200 at 77). To help conceal the
assignment from James Wilburn, James D. delayed filing the assignment with the
recorder’s office until April 3, 2007. (Doc. 198, Ex. E).
In January 2007, James D. approached Howard Robinson to purchase an
apartment duplex called Marlou. (Doc. 197 at 8-11). Robinson first met James D. in late
2006. (Id. at 6). Robinson described James D. as a person desperate for money but also a
charismatic and persuasive salesman. (Id. at 6-7). For example, James D. successfully
convinced Robinson to purchase a gun from James D. for $700 even though Robinson
knew the gun was worth significantly less. (Id. at 6-7). On January 23, 2007, James D.
and Robinson signed a contract to purchase Marlou for $235,000. (Id. at 9-10; Doc. 218,
Ex. K). As part of the negotiations, Robinson loaned James D. $20,000, which James D.
promised to repay at the closing. (Doc. 197 at 13; Doc. 224 Ex. B). On the memo line of
the check, Robinson wrote that the money was for Marlou. (Doc. 224 Ex. B). Robinson
repeatedly testified that James D. presented himself as the buyer of Marlou in January
2007 and that James D. never mentioned Curtis or C&J. (Doc. 197 at 8, 10-11, 15).
James D. first spoke with Curtis about purchasing Marlou in late February 2007
and told Curtis that they needed $21,750 for the down payment. (Doc. 195 at 21-23).
17

James D. convinced Curtis that they would use only $16,000 of Curtis’ $50,000 initial
investment towards the down payment. (Id. at 22-23). James D. had told Curtis that his
$50,000 was deposited in a savings or escrow account to which Curtis did not have
access, and Curtis remained unware that this money was gone. (Id. at 15, 134-35).
The closing on Marlou occurred on March 2, 2007. (Doc. 195 at 22). Only
minutes before the closing began, James D. approached Robinson in the parking lot to tell
Robinson that Curtis and his wife would be the real purchasers of Marlou. (Doc. 197 at
16-17, 35, 39). Robinson was caught completely off guard because James D. had
discussed purchasing Marlou himself and Robinson had never heard of Curtis before.
(Id.) Robinson testified that he received only $175,000 of the $215,000 purchase price at
the Marlou closing. (Id. at 19-22). Robinson first realized this discrepancy during the
closing, which also attended by at least one title agent. (Id.) James D. silently mouthed
to Robinson that he would take care of the $40,000 difference, in addition to repaying the
$20,000 loan James D. had promised to repay at the closing. (Id.) Robinson trusted
James D. at the time so he took James D. at his word. (Id. at 65). Robinson repeatedly
testified that James D., not Curtis or Wilburn, owed Robinson the outstanding $60,000.
(Doc. 197 at 21, 27, 40, 50, 56).
Curtis began to realize that James D. had defrauded him in late March 2007. First,
James Wilburn told Curtis that C&J did not own an interest in Midwest because the Land
Contract required James Wilburn’s consent for the purported assignment of Midwest to
C&J. (Doc. 200 at 68-71, 77). Curtis also learned that James D. had lied about making
the $4,000 monthly installment payments to James Wilburn. (Doc. 195 at 25-26, 28).
18

James D. had been deducting money from the Midwest rent payments and told Curtis the
money went to James Wilburn. (Id.) However, James D. actually spent that money on
personal expenses. (Id.) Curtis believed that he had owned an interest in Midwest for
three months and attempted to pay the three missed installment payments in an attempt to
salvage his investment; however, James Wilburn refused to accept the money out of fear
that doing so would tacitly recognize Curtis as a partial owner. (Id.) Still desperate to
save his investment, Curtis gave $12,000 to James D. so that he could make the
installment payments to James Wilburn. (Id. at 73-74). Later in March 2007, Curtis first
learned that James D. had spent his initial $50,000 investment on personal expenses. (Id.
at 31, 134-35).
On April 2, 2007, three months after forming C&J with James D., Curtis dissolved
C&J and terminated the Operating Agreement. (Doc. 198, Exs. H, I). On April 17 and
26, 2007, Curtis reorganized C&J and declared himself the sole member. (Id., Exs. J, K).
Additionally, Curtis removed James D. from the C&J checking account and changed the
key to the post office box the two had previously shared. (Doc. 195 at 33-34, 149).
On April 6, 2007, James D. wrote three postdated checks to Robinson for a total of
$40,000. (Doc. 197 at 27; Doc. 224, Ex. G). The three checks bounced when Robinson
attempted to cash them in early May 2007. (Doc. 224, Ex. H). Robinson called Curtis
soon after to tell Curtis that the checks bounced and threatened to call the sheriff on
James D. (Doc. 195 at 21; Doc. 197 at 28). On June 13, 2007, James Wilburn repaid his
son’s $20,000 to Robinson to prevent the situation from escalating with law enforcement.
(Doc. 183-5 at 3).
19

Between April and June 2007, Curtis and James Wilburn had extensive discussions
regarding Curtis purchasing Midwest directly from James Wilburn. (Doc. 195 at 31;
Doc. 200 at 68-71, 77). James Wilburn was impressed with Curtis’ management of
Midwest, particularly the manner in which Curtis collected rent and maintained the
property. (Doc. 195 at 111-12, 129, 136). Eventually the two reached an agreement for
Curtis and his wife to purchase Midwest for $700,000. (Doc. 200 at 77-78).
On May 1, 2007, Curtis signed a quitclaim deed conveying any interest C&J had
in Midwest back to GMRE. (Doc. 198, Ex. L). Also on May 1, 2007, James Wilburn and
James D. executed a Mutual Release of Land Contract, which cancelled the 2002 Land
Contract for Midwest. (Id., Ex. G). The Mutual Release of Land Contract recited that
James D. owed over $466,000 on Midwest, that James D. failed to make the required
monthly installment payments since May 2006 and had failed to pay the real estate taxes
since 2005, and that James Wilburn had loaned $120,000 to James D. (Id.)
James D. called Curtis in early June 2007 to request a $10,000 commission for his
role in the Midwest sale. (Doc. 195 at 65-68). On June 14, 2007, Curtis agreed to the
commission because James D. was the only reason that Curtis knew about Midwest and
wrote a $10,000 check to James D. (Id.; Doc. 198, Ex. N).
On June 28, 2007, James Wilburn and his wife sold Midwest to Curtis and his wife
for $700,000 and transferred title through a General Warranty Deed. (Doc. 1945 at 52;
Doc. 198, Ex. O). Also on June 28, 2007, Curtis and his wife purchased 8000 Hamilton
from a couple who are not involved in this litigation. (Doc. 195 at 49, 103). Curtis and
his wife signed loan applications for the financing on Midwest and 8000 Hamilton, and a
20

HUD-1 statement for Midwest. (Doc. 221-3; Doc. 224, Exs. J, O). Curtis met with
Barbara Hoffman in February 2007 to complete the loan application. (Doc. 195 at 61).
Curtis and his wife received a $38,500 loan towards his purchase of 8000
Hamilton and a $682,500 loan on the refinance of Midwest. (Doc. 221-3; Doc. 224, Ex.
O). Wilburn received a check for $469,500 from Silver Hill Financial as part of the
purchase price for Midwest. (Doc. 200 at 97; Doc. 216-8). Curtis also executed a
$215,000 promissory note to James Wilburn, which was secured by a mortgage. (Doc.
243-3).
Curtis did not speak with James D. again until early September 2007, when James
D. approached Curtis in a very desperate manner talking about suicide. (Doc. 195 at 6972). James D. said that he needed money to pay the mortgage on his own house and
adamantly asserted that he held equity in Midwest. (Id.) Curtis was particularly sensitive
to suicide because years earlier another cousin committed suicide and Curtis watched the
children grow up without a father. (Id. at 70). Eventually Curtis borrowed $12,000 from
another family member and wrote a check on September 12, 2007, which Curtis hoped
would prevent his cousin James D. from also committing suicide. (Id.; Doc. 198, Ex. P).
It was not until Colwell committed suicide in March 2008 that Curtis learned that James
D.’s properties were in foreclosure and that James D. had taken money from other
investors. (Doc. 195 at 174, 181).
III.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

A motion for summary judgment should be granted if the evidence submitted to
the Court demonstrates that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and that the
21

movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see Celotex
Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S.
242, 247-48 (1986). The moving party has the burden of showing the absence of genuine
disputes over facts which, under the substantive law governing the issue, might affect the
outcome of the action. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. All facts and inferences must be
construed in a light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Matsushita Elec.
Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986).
A party opposing a motion for summary judgment “may not rest upon the mere
allegations or denials of his pleading, but . . . must set forth specific facts showing that
there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248. Where a “party fails . . . to
properly address another party’s assertion of fact as required by Rule 56(c), the court may
. . . consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2).”
“[J]udges are not like pigs, hunting for truffles that might be buried in the record.”
Emerson v. Novartis Pharm. Corp., 446 F. App’x 733, 736 (6th Cir. 2011). It is counsel’s
responsibility and obligation “to point to the evidence with specificity and particularity in
the relevant brief rather than just dropping a pile of paper on the district judge’s desk and
expecting him to sort it out.” Wimbush v. Wyeth, 619 F.3d 632, 639 n.4 (6th Cir. 2010).
The Court will not “sua sponte comb the record from the partisan perspective of an
advocate.” Guarino v. Brookfield Twp. Trustees, 980 F.2d 399, 410 (6th Cir. 1992).
Rather, counsel must “identify this evidence and craft these arguments” supported by
“specific citations to particular portions of the record.” Emerson, 446 F. App’x at 736.
“[T]he designated portions of the record must be presented with enough specificity that
22

the district court can readily identify the facts upon which the [moving or] nonmoving
party relies.” InterRoyal Corp. v. Sponseller, 889 F.2d 108, 111 (6th Cir. 1989). 11
IV.

FRAUDULENT TRANSFER

James Wilburn and Curtis argue that Plaintiffs’ fraudulent transfer and civil
conspiracy claims are barred by the statute of limitations.
A claim under the Ohio Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“UFTA”) requires
proof that a debtor made a transfer or incurred an obligation “with actual intent to hinder,
delay, or defraud any creditor of the debtor.” Ohio Rev. Code § 1336.04(A)(1). The
UFTA was enacted to “create a right of action for a creditor to set aside an allegedly
fraudulent transfer of assets.” Esteco, Inc. v. Kimpel, No. 07-co-3, 2007 Ohio App.
LEXIS 6323, at *4 (Ohio App. Dec. 20, 2007).
“The tort of civil conspiracy is a malicious combination of two or more persons to
injure another in person or property, in a way not competent for one alone, resulting in
actual damages.” Williams v. Aetna Fin. Co., 700 N.E.2d 859, 868 (Ohio 1998). “An
underlying unlawful act is required before a civil conspiracy claim can succeed.” Id
Plaintiffs’ UFTA and civil conspiracy claims relate to the Mutual Release of Land
Contract and Quit Claim Deed divesting James D. of any interest in Midwest, and James
Wilburn’s subsequent transfer of Midwest to Curtis. James Wilburn and Betty executed a
11

Beyond the sheer volume of exhibits submitted, the Court’s ability to address the pending
motions was particularly hindered by Plaintiffs’ inconsistent and confusing labeling of exhibits
and citations thereto. Among the various labels are appendix, deposition exhibit, deposition
document, tab, and admission, often used in combination. For example, record citations include
“Depo. Exh. 23, at Depo. Doc. 26,” “Appx A, Exh. 48, at 17057-61,” “Exh, 9, Tab 139, 1599,”
and “Depo Exh. 9, at Tab 89.” Frequently the pincite is to a five-digit Bates number, but the
pages in exhibits are often not organized sequentially.
23

General Warranty Deed on June 28, 2007, transferring title to Midwest to Curtis and his
wife. (Doc. 198, Ex. O). The Mutual Release of Land Contract was recorded on June 6,
2007. (Id., Ex. G). The Quit Claim Deed and General Warranty Deed were both properly
recorded on July 10, 2007. (Id., Ex. O; Doc. 208-16). Finally, Curtis’ $215,000
mortgage to James Wilburn was recorded on August 20, 2007. (Doc. 243-3).
James Wilburn and Curtis contend that the UFTA and civil conspiracy claims
related to the 2007 transfer of Midwest are barred by the statute of limitations. The
UFTA provides that an actual fraud claim under § 1336.04(A)(1) is “extinguished unless
an action is brought . . . within four years after the transfer was made or the obligation
was incurred or, if later, within one year after the transfer or obligation was or reasonably
could have been discovered by the claimant.” Ohio Rev. Code § 1336.09(A). 12 It is
undisputed that Plaintiffs’ UFTA claims, which were first asserted on May 17, 2012, were
brought more than four years after the transfer of Midwest. Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ claim
is timely only if the one-year discovery rule applies.
The dispositive question here is whether the Midwest transfer “was or reasonably
could have been discovered by” Plaintiffs before August 20, 2011. Ohio Rev. Code
§ 1336.09(A). In determining whether a party should have discovered wrongful conduct,
the relevant inquiry under Ohio law is whether the facts known “would lead a fair and
prudent man, using ordinary care and thoughtfulness, to make further inquiry.”
Hambleton v. R.G. Barry Corp., 465 N.E.2d 1298, 1300-01 (Ohio 1984). If Plaintiffs
12

The statute of limitations for a civil conspiracy claim is the same as the underlying cause of
action. Cramer v. Fairfield Med. Ctr., 914 N.E.2d 447, 458 (Ohio App. 2009). Accordingly, the
same statute of limitations analysis applies to Plaintiffs’ civil conspiracy claims.
24

“possessed knowledge sufficient to lead a reasonably prudent person to make inquiry and
had such inquiry been made with reasonable care and diligence, it would have led to the
discovery” of the Midwest transfer sometime before August 20, 2011, then the claim is
untimely. Id. at 1301.
The Court first addresses a preliminary matter. Plaintiffs insist that the Court’s
two prior rulings that factual disputes precluded summary judgment on the statute of
limitations issue prevents James Wilburn and Curtis from raising the issue in their current
motions. (Docs. 147, 186). The Court’s second ruling denied Plaintiffs’ motion for
partial summary judgment that the statute of limitations defense did not apply. (Doc.
186). James Wilburn filed his responsive memorandum to Plaintiffs’ motion on June 20,
2013. (Doc. 160). On June 25, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a motion to extend the discovery
deadline to September 15, 2013. (Doc. 166). The Court granted the extension in part and
extended the discovery deadline to August 5, 2013 and the dispositive motions deadline
to September 13, 2013. (Doc. 169). Plaintiffs then moved for default judgment against
the business entity Defendants on July 8, 2013, supported by the affidavit of Diana
Bradley. (Doc. 173-1). Diana Bradley was deposed that same day. (Doc. 203).
Courts have the inherent authority reconsider interlocutory orders when new
evidence is available. Louisville/Jefferson Cnty. Metro Gov’t v. Hotels.com, L.P., 590
F.3d 381, 389 (6th Cir. 2009). Diana Bradley’s affidavit was not available to James
Wilburn or Curtis in opposing Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. (Doc. 160).
The only facts presented to the Court on its prior rulings involved whether Plaintiffs and
their counsel were diligent in investigating matters after filing their original complaint.
25

(Docs. 147, 186). However, Plaintiffs subsequently introduced new evidence that is
highly relevant to the issue of whether Plaintiffs reasonably could have discovered the
challenged transfer prior to filing their original complaint in October 2010. Notably,
Plaintiffs filed this affidavit after requesting an extension to the discovery deadline and
dispositive motion deadline. (Doc. 166). Accordingly, the Court concludes that it is
proper to examine this new evidence.
The affidavit of Diana Bradley provides that on May 22, 2008 she received a letter
from Fiserv, the IRA custodian, informing her that the GMD promissory notes where her
money was invested been administratively dissolved. (Doc. 110-18 at 20; Doc. 173-1 at
¶ 38). 13 An account statement indicated that Bradley’s Fiserv IRA account had a balance
of $55.58 on September 30, 2008. (Doc. 110-18 at 21). Bradley asked Miller about the
Fiserv letter, and Miller said he would have to look into the matter. (Id. at ¶ 40). About a
week later, Miller informed Bradley that Colwell had been shot dead under mysterious
circumstances. (Id. at ¶¶ 41-42). Bradley asserts she had never heard of Colwell, and
Miller explained that Colwell had played an important role in managing their investment.
(Id. at ¶ 41). 14 Miller explained that CI and GMRE could be forced to sell their real
estate holdings. (Id. at ¶ 43).
Several weeks later, in June 2008, the Bradleys received written questionnaires
from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Division of Securities requesting
13

As previously noted, the Court only considers the portions of Diana Bradley’s affidavit which
are based on her personal knowledge.
14

Plaintiffs submitted a number of account statements from Fiserv dated between 2005 and
2007, which prominently list David Colwell as the financial representative on her account. (Doc.
110-18 at 1, 3, 8, 11, 15, 18).
26

information about their investments in CI. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 46). The Bradleys signed the
questionnaires in blank and permitted Miller to complete them. (Id. at ¶¶ 47-49, 51).
Sometime thereafter, Mark Ballenger, an enforcement attorney at the Ohio Division of
Securities, called Diana Bradley with follow-up questions about the questionnaires. (Id.
at ¶ 50). Ballenger asked Bradley about Colwell, who was listed on the questionnaire as
the person who sold her the investments. (Id.) Bradley denied that Colwell sold her the
investments and told Ballenger that Miller had completed the questionnaires. (Id. at
¶¶ 41-42, 51).
Fifteen minutes later, Miller called Diana Bradley in an “angry” tone to ask what
she told Ballenger. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 52). Ballenger called Bradley again later that day,
explaining that the Ohio Division of Securities was beginning an investigation into CI
and that she and her husband could be called to testify in court. (Id. at ¶ 53). Ballenger
continued to speak with Diana Bradley about the investigation from approximately June
to September 2008. (Id. at ¶ 55).
On January 29, 2009, Diana Bradley received a letter from the Butler County
Prosecutor informing her of an ongoing criminal investigation into CI. (Doc. 173-1 at
¶ 65). The letter specifically advised the Bradleys that their money was gone and that
they should consult with an attorney. (Id. at ¶¶ 70, 71). Diana Bradley spoke with
Ballenger after receiving the letter from the Butler County Prosecutor about her mother’s
investment with Miller. (Id. at ¶ 74). At Ballenger’s request, Diana Bradley sent
Ballenger documents related to her mother’s investment. (Id. at ¶¶ 74-76).

27

On December 30, 2008, the Ohio Department of Commerce filed a civil action
against, inter alia, James D., Miller, CI, GMD, and GMRE. (Doc. 108-8). On March 10,
2009, Diana Bradley received a letter from the court-appointed receiver for James D.
advising her to submit a claim. (Doc. 203 at 93-94, 180). Diana Bradley responded to
the receiver with a letter dated March 14, 2009. (Doc. 110-6 at 8-9). Bradley’s letter
explained that the May 22, 2008 letter from Fiserv informed her that there was no money
remaining in her IRA account. (Id. at 9). Bradley had called Fiserv shortly after she
received the letter intending to close her account. (Id.) Bradley received another notice
from Fiserv on January 10, 2009 charging her an account service fee. (Id.) On February
15, 2009, Bradley officially requested that Fiserv close her account and disburse any
remaining funds. (Id.) Bradley received a check for $25.59 several weeks later. (Id.)
Based on this new evidence introduced by Diana Bradley’s affidavit, the Court
concludes as a matter of law that the Bradleys “possessed knowledge sufficient to lead a
reasonably prudent person to make inquiry and had such inquiry been made with
reasonable care and diligence, it would have led to the discovery of the alleged”
fraudulent transfer of Midwest prior to August 20, 2011. Hambleton, 465 N.E.2d at
1301; Ohio Rev. Code § 1336.09(A). Specifically, the Bradleys received notice from four
independent parties between May 22, 2008 and March 10, 2009 that there were serious
issues with their investments and the persons tasked with managing their funds. Diana
Bradley knew that her Fiserv account was worthless, that the Ohio Division of Securities
was actively investigating the persons involved with her investment, that criminal charges
were contemplated, and that a civil action was commenced. Most notably, the Butler
28

County Prosecutor starkly warned Diana Bradley to consult with an attorney on January
29, 2009. (Doc. 173-1 at ¶ 65). During this time, Midwest was listed as a property
owned by CI in the Real Estate Portfolio. (Doc. 246, Ex. A).
Under the totality of the circumstances, the Bradleys had “knowledge of such facts
as would lead a fair and prudent man, using ordinary care and thoughtfulness, to make
further inquiry.” Hambleton, 465 N.E.2d at 1300-01. Accordingly, Plaintiffs’ fraudulent
transfer and civil conspiracy claims are barred by the statute of limitations. Ohio Rev.
Code § 1336.09(A).
V.

OCPA and OCPA Conspiracy

Plaintiffs move for summary judgment against all four Defendants on their OCPA
and OCPA conspiracy claims, while James Wilburn and Curtis filed cross motions for
summary judgment on these claims. James D. and Miller did not file responsive
memoranda.
A.

Legal Standard

The OCPA, which is primarily a criminal statute, is modeled after the federal
RICO statute. These statutes were enacted to “enhance the government’s ability to quell
organized crime.” State v. Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d 911, 914 (Ohio 1997). “The obvious
intent of the General Assembly in enacting the RICO statutes was to reduce the influence
and power of organized crime in the state.” State v. Stevens, 11 N.E.3d 252, 256 (Ohio
2014). In addition to providing enhanced criminal sanctions, the OCPA authorizes civil
actions for treble damages to persons who suffered injuries proximately caused by the
OCPA violation.
29

1. Substantive OCPA Violation
The OCPA contains three distinct prohibitions:
(A)(1) No person employed by, or associated with, any enterprise shall
conduct or participate in, directly or indirectly, the affairs of the enterprise
through a pattern of corrupt activity or the collection of an unlawful debt.
(2) No person, through a pattern of corrupt activity or the collection of an
unlawful debt, shall acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest
in, or control of, any enterprise or real property.
(3) No person, who knowingly has received any proceeds derived, directly
or indirectly, from a pattern of corrupt activity or the collection of any
unlawful debt, shall use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of those
proceeds, or any proceeds derived from the use or investment of any of
those proceeds, in the acquisition of any title to, or any right, interest, or
equity in, real property or in the establishment or operation of any
enterprise.
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.32(A). 15 Plaintiffs’ amended complaint alleges that each
Defendant violated and conspired to violate § 2923.32(A) without specifying a
particular subsection. (Doc. 46 at ¶¶ 220-23). 16 However, Plaintiffs do cite each
of the three subsections in their briefs and appear to argue violations of each
provision. Accordingly, the Court will construe Plaintiffs’ amended complaint to
assert a violations of each of the three provisions of § 2923.32(A). See Sheets v.
Carmel Farms, No. 96APE09-1224, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 2442, at *13-14
(Ohio App. June 5, 1997) (noting that the plaintiffs’ OCPA claims “are not models
of clarity,” but construing them to assert violations of each subsection).

15

Ohio case law focuses almost exclusively on § 2923.32(A)(1).

16

In contrast, Plaintiffs alleged violations of the four RICO subsections in separate claims.
(Doc. 46 at ¶¶ 212-18).
30

To establish a violation of § 2923.32(A)(1), Plaintiffs must prove “(1) that the
conduct of the defendant involves the commission of two or more specifically prohibited
state or federal criminal offenses, (2) that the prohibited criminal conduct of the
defendant constitutes a pattern of corrupt activity, and (3) that the defendant has
participated in the affairs of an enterprise.” Hall v. CFIC Home Mtg., 888 N.E.2d 469,
477 (Ohio App. 2008). A violation of § 2923.32(A)(2), sometimes referred to as an
acquisition claim, requires proof : “(1) that the conduct of the defendant involves the
commission of two or more specifically prohibited state or federal criminal offenses,
(2) that the prohibited criminal conduct of the defendant constitutes a pattern of corrupt
activity, and (3) that the defendant . . . has acquired or maintained an interest in or control
of an enterprise” or real property. Id. Finally, an investment claim under
§ 2923.32(A)(3) requires proof: (1) that the defendant knowingly received proceeds
derived from a pattern of corrupt activity, (2) that the defendant used or invested those
proceeds (3) to acquire an interest in real property or in the establishment of an
enterprise. Sheets, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 2442, at *13-14. 17
There are two major differences between violations of § 2923.32(A)(1) and (A)(2)
on the one hand, and § 2923.32(A)(3) on the other. First, § 2923.32(A)(1) and (A)(2)
require proof that the defendant personally committed two or more predicate acts that
constitute a pattern of corrupt activity. State v. Feliciano, 685 N.E.2d 1307, 1311 (Ohio
17

“Ohio’s RICO statute differs from its federal counterpart in that an acquisition or investment
claim under R.C. 2923.32(A)(2) or (3), respectively, may be made by alleging acquisition of, or
investment in either an enterprise or real property. In contrast, a federal acquisition or
investment claim under sections 1962(b) and (a), respectively, must allege acquisition of, or
investment in[,] an enterprise.” Sheets, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 2442, at *13 n.3. Plaintiffs
focus exclusively on Defendants’ alleged acquisition of or investment in real property.
31

App. 1996). Although a violation of § 2923.32(A)(3) requires proof of the existence of a
pattern of corrupt activity, it “does not require that the defendant have committed the acts
that are the basis for the ‘pattern of corrupt activity.’” Id. at 1314. Second,
§ 2923.32(A)(1) and (A)(2) are strict liability offenses, while § 2923.32(A)(3) requires
proof that the defendant acted “knowingly.” State v. Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d 911, 913-14
& n.1 (Ohio 1997). Accordingly, “no culpable mental state is required” to establish that a
defendant engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity for purposes of § 2923.32(A)(1) and
(A)(2). Id. at 915-16. Rather, “if a defendant has engaged in two or more acts
constituting a predicate offense, he or she is engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and
may be found guilty of a RICO violation” if the defendant also either participated in the
affairs of an enterprise, § 2923.32(A)(1), or acquired or maintained an interest in an
enterprise or real property, § 2923.32(A)(2). Id. at 915. 18 Conversely, § 2923.32(A)(3)
“refers to ‘knowingly’ receiving and investing proceeds from a pattern of corrupt activity,
presumably to protect innocent investors, banks, etc.” Id. at 913 n.1.
The Supreme Court of Ohio summarized the multiple overlapping elements of a
§ 2923.32(A)(1) violation as follows:
A RICO offense is dependent upon a defendant committing two or more
predicate offenses listed in R.C. 2923.31(I). However, a RICO offense also
requires a defendant to be “employed by, or associated with” an
“enterprise” and to “conduct or participate in” an “enterprise through a
pattern of corrupt activity.” R.C. 2923.32(A)(1). Such pattern must include
both a relationship and continuous activity, as well as proof of the existence
of an enterprise. Thus, the conduct required to commit a RICO violation is
independent of the conduct required to commit the underlying predicate
18

This does not remove the necessity to prove the mens rea for the underlying predicate offenses
that make up the pattern of corrupt activity. Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d at 915.
32

offenses. The intent of RICO is to criminalize the pattern of criminal
activity, not the underlying predicate acts.
State v. Miranda, 5 N.E.3d 603, 606-07 (Ohio 2014) (internal citations omitted).
Many of the terms used in the OCPA are statutorily defined. “Corrupt activity”
means “engaging in, attempting to engage in, conspiring to engage in, or soliciting,
coercing, or intimidating another person to engage in” any of a long list of enumerated
state and federal criminal statutes. § 2923.31(I). A “pattern of corrupt activity” means
“two or more incidents of corrupt activity, whether or not there has been a prior
conviction, that are related to the affairs of the same enterprise, are not isolated, and are
not so closely related to each other and connected in time and place that they constitute a
single event.” § 2923.31(E). 19 “The commission of two incidents of corrupt activity
alone is insufficient to demonstrate a pattern of corrupt activity.” Morrow v. Reminger &
Reminger Co., L.P.A., 915 N.E.2d 696, 708 (Ohio App. 2009). Instead, “a pattern of
corrupt activity under the OCPA requires that predicate crimes be related and pose a
threat of continued criminal activity.” Id.
“Enterprise” is defined as including “any individual, sole proprietorship,
partnership, limited partnership, corporation, trust, union, government agency, or other
legal entity, or any organization, association, or group of persons associated in fact
although not a legal entity. ‘Enterprise’ includes illicit as well as licit enterprises.”
§ 2923.31(C). The Supreme Court of Ohio has remarked that “[t]he definition of
‘enterprise’ is remarkably open-ended” and observed that the statute “does not indicate
19

As discussed infra, not every pattern of corrupt activity is sufficient to support a civil OCPA
action.
33

how the existence of an enterprise is to be proved.” Beverly, 2015-Ohio-219, at ¶¶ 8-9.
Several recent cases have sought to clarify the definition of an enterprise and develop
standards to prove its existence.
To prove that a defendant was “associated” with an enterprise, the prosecution or a
civil plaintiff must “prove that each defendant was voluntarily connected to that pattern
[of corrupt activity] and performed at least two acts in furtherance of it.” Schlosser, 681
N.E.2d at 915. To “conduct” the affairs of the enterprise means “to direct.” State v.
Beverly, 2015-Ohio-219, at ¶ 19. Alternatively, a defendant may “participate” in the
affairs of the enterprise. In the context of the OCPA, “participate” means “to take part in
and is not limited to those who have directed the pattern of corrupt activity. It
encompasses those who have performed activities necessary or helpful to the operation of
the enterprise whether directly or indirectly without an element of control.” Id.
In State v. Griffin, 24 N.E.3d 1147 (Ohio 2014), the Supreme Court of Ohio
indicated that “the concepts of ‘common purpose’ and ‘acting in concert’ are included in
the concepts of ‘associating with an enterprise’ and ‘conducting or participating in the
affairs of that enterprise.’” Id. at 1151. In Beverly, the Supreme Court of Ohio formally
adopted the federal RICO definition of an association-in-fact enterprise as “a group of
persons associated together for a common purpose of engaging in a course of conduct.”
Beverly, 2015-Ohio-219, at ¶ 9 (quoting United States v. Turkette, 452 U.S. 576, 583
(1981)).
For an OCPA conspiracy claim, “the plaintiff is not required to prove that each
defendant committed two or more predicate acts.” In re Nat’l Century Fin. Enterprises,
34

Inc., Inv. Litig., 604 F. Supp. 2d 1128, 1157 (S.D. Ohio 2009). However, Plaintiffs can
only meet their “burden by presenting evidence that the defendant agreed that others
would commit the acts that would establish the ‘pattern of corrupt activity.’” Feliciano,
685 N.E.2d at 1316. This requires proof that a defendant “knowingly cooperated in a
common plan” to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity. In re Nat’l Century Fin.
Enterprises, 604 F. Supp. 2d at 1159. 20
2. Civil cause of action
In addition to establishing a violation or conspiracy to violate any or all of the
subsections of § 2923.32(A), a plaintiff in a civil OCPA action must prove he or she was
injured, directly or indirectly, by the OCPA violation and the injuries were proximately
caused by that violation.
First, the plaintiff must prove that he or she is a “person directly or indirectly
injured by conduct in violation of section 2923.32 of the Revised Code or a conspiracy to
violate that section.” Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.34(E). Ohio courts apply “traditional
notions of proximate cause” to civil OCPA actions. Cleveland v. JP Morgan Chase Bank,
N.A., No. 98656, 2013 WL 1183332, at *5, *8 (Ohio App. Mar. 21, 2013). Although the
OCPA is “broader than the comparable federal RICO requirement” in that it authorizes
20

Plaintiffs erroneously argue that an OCPA conspiracy may also be established through strict
liability. In doing so, Plaintiffs appear to conflate the distinct concept of a strict liability offense
with a conspiracy. In State v. Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d 911 (Ohio 1997), the Supreme Court of
Ohio held that § 2923.32(A)(1) and (A)(2), but not § 2923.32(A)(3), are strict liability criminal
offenses such that “no culpable mental state is required.” Id. at 916. Plaintiffs rely heavily on
State v. Siferd, 783 N.E.2d 591 (Ohio App. 2002), but that case involved a defendant convicted of
a substantive violation of § 2923.32(A)(1), not a conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt
activity. Accordingly, Siferd provides no guidance for establishing an OCPA conspiracy in a civil
action.
35

civil actions to recover for indirect injuries, it is “clear a plaintiff bringing a claim under
[OCPA] must prove its damages were proximately caused by the defendant’s” conduct in
violation of § 2923.32(A). CSAHA/UHHS-Canton, Inc. v. Aultman Health Found., No.
2010CA00303, 2012 WL 750972, at *9-10 (Ohio App. 2012). Accordingly, “the
language in § 2923.34(E) that any person directly or indirectly injured can state a private
cause of action informs the analysis of whether, but does not relieve the burden to prove
that, the illegal conduct proximately caused the plaintiff’s injury.” W. & S. Life Ins. Co. v.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., __ F. Supp. 3d __, No. 1:11-cv-495, 2014 WL 5308422, at
*25 (S.D. Ohio Oct. 16, 2014).
Proximate cause “requires a showing of connection between the violations and the
claimed injuries.” Lesick v. Manning, No. 91-C-70, 1992 WL 380284, at *3 (Ohio App.
Dec. 17, 1992). The proximate cause inquiry is tied to the particular violation of
§ 2923.32(A). A civil action premised on a violation of § 2923.32(A)(1) requires proof
that the defendant’s pattern of corrupt activity proximately caused the plaintiff’s injury.
Herakovic v. Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, No. 85467, 2005 WL 3007145, at *5 (Ohio
App. Nov. 10, 2005). If a defendant acquired an interest in real property through a
pattern of corrupt activity in violation of § 2923.32(A)(2), the plaintiff must offer proof
that its injuries were proximately caused by the defendant’s acquisition of that property
interest. Sheets, 1997 Ohio App. LEXIS 2442, at *18. Finally, if a violation of
§ 2923.32(A)(3) is demonstrated based on evidence that a defendant knowingly received
proceeds derived from a pattern of corrupt activity and used or invested those proceeds to

36

acquire an interest in real property, then the plaintiff must establish injuries proximately
caused by the usage or investment of those proceeds. Id.
Second, the pattern of corrupt activity that forms the basis of a civil claim “shall
include at least one incident other than a violation of” state and federal criminal statutes
prohibiting mail or wire fraud, securities fraud, or interstate transportation of stolen
goods. Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.34(E). Accordingly, Plaintiffs must demonstrate that
each defendant engaged in a “pattern of corrupt activity that includes at least one
predicate act that is not a form of securities fraud, mail or wire fraud, or the interstate
transportation of stolen property or securities.” Baker v. Pfeifer, 940 F. Supp. 1168, 1181
(S.D. Ohio 1996).
3. Predicate Acts
Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants’ pattern of corrupt activity included money
laundering, § 1315.55(A), and tampering with records, § 2913.42(A).
a.

Money Laundering

Plaintiffs rely on two subsections of the money laundering statute, which provide:
(1) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction knowing
that the property involved in the transaction is the proceeds of some form of
unlawful activity with the purpose of committing or furthering the
commission of corrupt activity.
....
(3) No person shall conduct or attempt to conduct a transaction with the
purpose to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion,
management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity.
§ 1315.55(A). The term “transaction” includes “a purchase, sale, trade, loan, pledge,
investment, gift, transfer, transmission, delivery, deposit, withdrawal, payment, transfer

37

between accounts, exchange of currency, extension of credit, purchase or sale of a
payment instrument, use of a safe deposit box, or any other acquisition or disposition of
property.” § 1315.51(L). “Corrupt activity” has the same meaning as in the OCPA.
§ 1315.51(B).
In State v. Pugh, No. 24905, 2010 WL 2393603 (Ohio App. June 16, 2010), an
Ohio appellate court reversed a conviction under § 1315.33(A)(3) because “the State did
not present any evidence of an independent corrupt activity to support Pugh’s conviction
for money laundering.” Id. at 5. The court stressed that “[t]he act of transacting money
alone does not amount to money laundering. Instead, one must transact with the ‘purpose
to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management,
establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity.’” Id. at 4. The prosecution’s case was
fatally flawed because there was no evidence to “connect the transfer of the $25,000 with
any particular wrongdoing on Pugh’s part that would constitute a corrupt activity.” Id. A
violation of § 1315.55(A)(1) “requires that an individual conduct a transaction knowing
that the property involved are proceeds from some other unlawful activity.” State v.
Clayton, No. 22937, 2009 WL 5247521, at *10 (Ohio App. Dec. 30, 2009).
b.

Tampering with records

The Ohio tampering with records statute provides:
(A) No person, knowing the person has no privilege to do so, and with
purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall
do any of the following:
(1) Falsify, destroy, remove, conceal, alter, deface, or mutilate any
writing, computer software, data, or record;
(2) Utter any writing or record, knowing it to have been tampered with
as provided in division (A)(1) of this section.
38

§ 2913.42(A). “Defraud” means to “knowingly obtain, by deception, some benefit for
oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by deception, some detriment to another.”
§ 2913.01(B). The dispositive question is whether the defendant, “with a purpose to
commit fraud, falsified any writing or record.” State v. Brunning, 983 N.E.2d 316, 323
(Ohio 2012).
A violation of § 2913.42(A)(1) requires proof that the defendant falsified or
destroyed the particular record at issue, while under § 2913.42(A)(2) the defendant need
only utter the record. State v. Burns, No. 95465, 2011 Ohio App. LEXIS 3572, at *16-18
(Ohio App. Aug. 19, 2011). In Burns, a conviction under § 2913.42(A)(1) was reversed
because there was no evidence that the defendant personally falsified the documents at
issue. Id. at 16. The evidence established that a co-defendant “created the invoices and
that Burns would deliver them.” Id. at 18. This was insufficient to support the
conviction because “no evidence established that Burns tampered with the invoices
himself.” Id. 21
B.

James D. and Miller

James D. and Miller failed to respond to Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
Accordingly, the Court will consider Plaintiffs’ properly supported facts as undisputed for
purposes of their claims against James D. and Miller. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2). The facts
involving these two Defendants are further buttressed by the factual admissions made in
their plea agreements, as well as the adverse inferences entered by the Court after the
21

The court observed that the defendant likely violated § 2913.42(A)(2), but he was not charged
with violating that particular provision. Id.
39

close of dispositive motion briefing. (Doc. 250). Together, this undisputed evidence
establishes that James D. engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity that proximately caused
Plaintiffs’ injuries. The evidence also demonstrates that Miller conspired with James D.
to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have shown that there
are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on their OCPA and OCPA conspiracy claims
against James D., and their OCPA conspiracy claim against Miller.
In addition to James D.’s wire fraud conviction, Plaintiffs establish that James D.
engaged in dozens of acts of money laundering in violation of §1315.55(A)(1) or (A)(3).
Between October 2005 and January 2006, James D. received nine checks from GMRE,
three checks for $1,430.50 and six for $2,000. (Doc. 216-3). James D. knew that these
funds were proceeds from the Ponzi scheme, and in utilizing the proceeds, James D.
intended to further the commission of the investment scheme. §1315.55(A)(1).
James D. also personally wrote or authorized others to write checks from the CI
and GMRE bank accounts to salesmen as commission for attracting new investors.
Miller received at least three commission checks from CI between May 10, 2005 and
January 1, 2006, in the amounts of $668.21, $2,864.90, and $110.42. (Doc. 163 at 11213; Doc. 216-4). Hubert Rials, another salesman for CI, received twenty-two checks
from CI. (Doc. 163 at 58-59; Doc. 216-5). James D. testified that Colwell used James
D.’s signature stamp to issue the checks, which James D. had authorized Colwell to use.
(Doc. 163 at 58-59, 113-14). The checks are dated between May 19, 2005 and October

40

13, 2006 and range in amount from $600 to $7,889. (Doc. 216-5). 22 Chatsworth Jacobs
was also an employee of GMRE. (Doc. 163 at 114-15). James D. authorized eight
payments from CI to Jacobs. (Doc. 216-6). The checks were dated between April 12,
2005 and January 29, 2008 for amounts ranging from $106.36 to $2,472.30. (Id.)
Between April 5, 2005 and May 10, 2006, James D. authorized CI to make six payments
to Colwell to repay a loan Colwell had made to GMRE. (Doc. 163 at 118-20; Doc. 2167; Doc. 250 at 3-4).
The Court also entered a number of adverse inferences against James D. that
establish predicate acts of money laundering. James D. wrote thirty-one checks from the
bank accounts of GMRE and GMD to pay for company expenses necessary to maintain
operations, such as utilities and account maintenance fees. (Doc. 250 at 4-5). A
significant number of these checks were made payable to cash. (Doc. 187-5 at 9-11).
James D. also wrote six checks to payoff investors. (Doc. 250 at 7-8). 23
The undisputed evidence establishes that James D. committed money laundering
in violation of §1315.55(A)(1) or (A)(3) through each of theses checks. James D. was
intimately involved in the operation of CI, GMRE, and GMD. He had full knowledge
22

The twenty-two checks are all made payable to the Bank of Kentucky, a detail that Plaintiffs
neither identify for the Court nor attempt to explain. (Doc. 216-5). Notwithstanding this
unexplained discrepancy, the memo line indicates the checks are for “Hugh Rials” and several
also include the word “commission,” “interest,” or “renewals.” (Id.)
23

In stark contrast to the independent evidence that supported the adverse inferences entered
against James D., such as copies of the relevant checks, the independent evidence for the adverse
inferences against Miller was his statement of facts from the plea agreement and Diana Bradley’s
affidavit. (Doc. 250 at 14-28). The questions Miller refused to answer on Fifth Amendment
grounds consisted of Plaintiffs’ counsel reading each sentence from his statement of facts and
select sentences from Diana Bradley’s affidavit, and then asking Miller to confirm if that
sentence was true. (Doc. 191 at 14-33).
41

that the funds in the bank accounts were derived from investors and he acted with the
intent to further the commission of the Ponzi scheme by ensuring that the salesmen
continued to solicit new investors to roll over their IRA accounts into promissory notes or
debt instruments with CI or GMD. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9; Doc. 250 at 3-5). Additionally, this
amounts to a pattern of corrupt activity because the predicate acts of money laundering
and wire fraud were “related and pose[d] a threat of continued criminal activity.”
Morrow, 915 N.E.2d at 708. The undisputed evidence also establishes that James D. was
“employed by, or associated with” an enterprise and that he conducted or participated in
that enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity. Miranda, 5 N.E.3d at 606-07. James
D. and Colwell associated together for a common purpose of engaging in a course a
conduct, namely, defrauding investors and pilfering the money for personal use. Beverly,
2015-Ohio-219, at ¶ 9.
By reason of his guilty plea to the charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and
the conduct admitted in his statement of facts, Miller conspired to violate the OCPA. 24
However, Plaintiffs’ failure to show that Miller personally engaged in a pattern of corrupt
activity is fatal to their substantive OCPA claim – although for an OCPA conspiracy claim

24

The Court notes that Plaintiffs’ devote only seven sentences to their contention that they are
entitled to judgment as a matter of law on their OCPA claims against Miller, and these sentences
are entirely devoid of any attempt to make a developed argument. (Doc. 208 at 49-51). Three
sentences merely refer to Miller’s criminal conviction or his statement of facts. The remaining
four sentences state in conclusory fashion that Plaintiffs have established the elements of their
claims. The Court declines to make the arguments that Plaintiffs simply failed to make.
Guarino, 980 F.2d at 410. This principle typically restrains courts from adopting the “partisan
perspective of an advocate for the non-moving party.” Id. While it is unusual for the nonmoving party to file a response in opposition, even in such circumstances, the Court must
restrain from making arguments for the movant.

42

“the plaintiff is not required to prove that each defendant committed two or more
predicate acts.” In re Nat’l Century Fin. Enterprises, 604 F. Supp. 2d at 1157. 25
Miller’s factual admissions in his statement of facts are sufficient to demonstrate
that Miller “agreed that others would commit the acts that would establish the ‘pattern of
corrupt activity,’” Feliciano, 685 N.E.2d at 1316, and that Miller “knowingly cooperated
in a common plan” to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity with James D. and Colwell.
In re Nat’l Century Fin. Enterprises, 604 F. Supp. 2d at 1159. Accordingly, Miller and
James D. conspired to violate the OCPA.
Finally, it is undisputed that Plaintiffs’ injuries were proximately caused by the
pattern of corrupt activity perpetrated by James D. and Colwell, which Miller conspired
to further. Accordingly, Plaintiffs are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on their
OCPA and OCPA conspiracy claims against James D., and upon their OCPA conspiracy
claim against Miller. Plaintiffs failed to show they are entitled to judgment as a matter of
law on their substantive OCPA claim against Miller.
C.

James Wilburn and Curtis

Plaintiffs were unquestionably defrauded by the false representations and material
omissions of James D., Miller, and Colwell as they solicited investments in promissory
notes offered by CI and GMD, purportedly backed by property owned by GMRE. By the
25

Plaintiffs’ complete argument that Miller committed predicate acts states: “In his Statement of
Facts, Miller recited dozens of predicate acts related to this criminal enterprise. (Doc. 192,
Appx. A). All these facts, and the many more contained in Miller’s Statement of facts, are
predicate acts for the purposes of Bradleys’ individual RICO claim against him. Ohio Rev. Code
§ 2923.31(I).” (Doc. 208 at 49-50). Plaintiffs made no attempt to apply any of these facts
admitted in his plea agreement, which Miller is estopped from denying, to the elements of any of
the dozens of criminal statutes listed in § 2923.31(I).
43

time the Ponzi scheme and the real estate market collapsed in close succession, Plaintiffs
were among the 90 investors who lost upwards of $9.2 million. However, after extensive
discovery and years of litigation, Plaintiffs fail to produce any evidence that James
Wilburn or Curtis played any role in that unfortunate chain of events.
1. James Wilburn pattern of corrupt activity
Plaintiffs contend that James Wilburn engaged in over twenty-five predicate acts
of money laundering. Plaintiffs contend that the following acts related to Midwest were
in violation of the money laundering statute: executing the Quit Claim Deed with James
D.; executing the Mutual Release of Land Contract and releasing $120,000 in loans to
James D.; arranging for James D. to receive a $10,000 commission on the sale of
Midwest; agreeing to sell Midwest to Curtis; executing a mortgage with Curtis; receiving
a check for the Midwest sale; and depositing that check in his bank account. Plaintiffs
also challenge a number of money transfer made by James Wilburn personally or by his
wife Betty with James Wilburn’s participation. Although Plaintiffs succeed in showing
that many of these acts were “transactions” within the broad statutory definition of the
term, Plaintiffs fail to offer evidence suggesting that James Wilburn made any of these
transactions with the purpose to commit, further, or promote corrupt activity.
Plaintiffs allege money laundering in violation of § 1315.55(A)(1) and (A)(3). A
violation of § 1315.55(A)(1) requires that proof that the defendant conducted the
transaction “knowing that the property involved in the transaction is the proceeds of some
form of unlawful activity with the purpose of committing or furthering the commission of

44

corrupt activity.” The only acts that could arguably involve property that was the
proceeds of unlawful activity are the transfers of Midwest.
James Wilburn divested James D. of any interest in Midwest through the Mutual
Release of Land Contract and the Quit Claim Deed. (Doc. 198, Ex. G; Doc. 208-16).
However, James Wilburn retained title under the Land Contract until James D. paid the
purchase price in full. (Doc. 198, Ex. A at ¶ 16). James D. defaulted on those payments
and title never transferred. This prompted James Wilburn to exercise his creditor’s rights
under the terms of the Land Contract and Ohio law. Plaintiffs contend that taking
possession of Midwest was a separate act of money laundering.
The Court need not decide whether these acts are a “transaction” under
§ 1315.51(L) because Plaintiffs cannot satisfy the other elements of § 1315.55(A)(1).
There is no evidence that Midwest was the “proceeds of some form of unlawful activity.”
Plaintiffs do not challenge the initial Land Contract. Although James D. may have held
out Midwest as a property owned by GMRE, there is nothing to support the legal
conclusion that Midwest became the “proceeds” of the investment scheme. The evidence
only demonstrates that James D. neglected Midwest, failed to make his required monthly
payments, and then James Wilburn exercised his creditor’s rights after James D.
defaulted. James Wilburn cannot reasonably be said to have acted “with the purpose of
committing or furthering unlawful activity” by divesting James D. of any interest he had
in Midwest. Instead, James Wilburn clearly acted inconsistent with any intent to further a
corrupt activity. The subsequent sale of Midwest to Curtis also has no connection to
committing or furthering corrupt activity.
45

The remaining acts could only constitute money laundering under § 1315.55(A)(3)
because there is no evidence that the property involved were the proceeds of unlawful
activity. Yet “[t]he act of transacting money alone does not amount to money laundering.
Instead, one must transact with the ‘purpose to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or
facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity.’”
Pugh, 2010 WL 2393603, at *4. Here, Plaintiffs present no evidence that James Wilburn
entered any of these transactions “with the purpose to promote, manage, establish, carry
on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt
activity.” §1315.55(A)(3).
Plaintiffs allege that James Wilburn made payments to two investors in the Ponzi
scheme, F.D. Jaffe and Robinson. On February 22, 2006, an individual, whom Plaintiffs
identify in their briefs only by the name Jaffe, wrote a $45,000 check to GMD. (Doc. 163
at 134; Doc. 216, Ex. 3). 26 Plaintiffs describe Jaffe as investor, but provide no factual
support for this assertion. On November 8, 2006, Betty withdrew $45,000 from her First
Financial Account. (Doc. 216-1 at 24). Written on the withdrawal slip are the words
“loaned Jamie - $55,000; $45,000 Wired to New Y Jaffe; $10,000 to pay off IRS bill.”
(Id.) Betty had no memory of the transfer, but testified that Jaffe sold jewelry and that
paying for diamonds was the only conceivable reason she would transfer that much
money to Jaffe. (Doc. 249-6 at 135-38). Plaintiffs alleged that James Wilburn
participated in that transfer, but they cite no record evidence in support.

26

The cited check clearly identifies the payor as F.D. Jaffe & Co, Inc. (Doc. 216, Ex. 3).
Plaintiffs make no mention of this in their briefs.
46

On June 13, 2007, James Wilburn paid $20,000 to Robinson. (Doc. 183-5 at 3).
The record is undisputed that Robinson loaned $20,000 to James D. on January 23, 2007
as the two negotiated for the purchase of Marlou. (Doc. 197 at 13; Doc. 224 Ex. B).
Robinson wrote on the memo line of the check that the money was for Marlou. (Doc.
224 Ex. B). It is undisputed that Robinson thought that James D. would purchase Marlou
and that James D. would repay the loan at the closing. (Doc. 197 at 16-17). There is no
evidence that Robinson had any involvement in CI, GMD, or GMRE. The Marlou
transaction was wholly unrelated to the business entities or the Ponzi scheme. Instead, it
is clear that James D. used the Marlou negotiations as a ruse to obtain a loan from
Robinson before substituting Curtis as the purchaser minutes before the closing. James
D. may have defrauded Robinson into making the loan, but that was wholly separate and
apart from his investment scheme.
Plaintiffs allege that the ten checks, cashier’s checks, and transfer from James
Wilburn and Betty constituted money laundering. (Doc. 216, Ex. 23 at 13, 22, 23, 26, 35,
37, 40, 41, 44). 27 It is undisputed that Betty purchased the four cashier’s checks between
September 6, 2007 and October 15, 2007 from her Fifth Third account. (Id. at 35, 37, 40,
41). It is also undisputed that James Wilburn was not authorized to make transactions
from this account. (Doc. 200 at 112).
27

Plaintiffs also cite a $31,000 Fifth Third cashier’s check made payable to GMD purchased by
“James Powell” on December 21, 2006. (Doc. 216, Ex. 23 at 31). James Wilburn testified that
he knew nothing about the check, that he never signs his name as simply “James Powell” without
using his middle name or initial, that the Fifth Third account was in his wife’s name only, and
that her account was not opened until July 2007. (Doc. 200 at 112-13, 117). Additionally, Betty
Powell testified that she knew nothing about that cashier’s check and had not heard of GMD at
the time the check was issued. (Doc. 249-6 at 90).
47

With respect to the checks actually written by James Wilburn, Plaintiffs cannot
show that James Wilburn wrote them with the intent to facilitate or perpetuate James D.’s
Ponzi scheme. The evidence establishes only that James Wilburn lent money to his cashstrapped son. The fact that James D. was operating a fraudulent investment scheme is not
sufficient to establish that his father was both aware of its existence and intended to keep
it in operation. The Court need not dwell on whether the remaining acts could qualify as
transactions because they are wholly unrelated to the Ponzi scheme. While Plaintiffs
survived motions to dismiss based on allegations alone, those same allegations are not
sufficient to survive summary judgment. Plaintiffs were required to offer evidence that
James Wilburn engaged in these transactions “with the purpose to promote, manage,
establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying
on of corrupt activity.” §1315.55(A)(3). Even after construing all inferences in their
favor, there is simply no support for finding James Wilburn engaged in these transactions
“with the purpose to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion,
management, establishment, or carrying on of corrupt activity.” Id.
2. Curtis pattern of corrupt activity
Plaintiffs contend that Curtis committed tampering by signing loan applications
containing inaccurate financial statements and committed money laundering by writing
two checks to his cousin James D.
a.

Tampering

Plaintiffs identify eighteen inaccurate statements across four documents and
contend that each statement constituted a separate act of tampering. Curtis concedes that
48

there were several errors on the loan applications and the settlement statement he signed,
but he adamantly contends that this information was taken without his knowledge from a
prior loan application submitted to the same lender on November 13, 2006, that the
information was entirely accurate at that time, and that he was unaware of the
inaccuracies when he hurriedly signed the documents. (Doc. 218 at ¶ 10).
As an initial matter, these allegations pertain to four separate documents.
However, Plaintiffs allege that there were eighteen acts of tampering. This contention has
no support in either the plain language of the statute nor Ohio case law. The tampering
statute provides that no person, with the purpose to defraud, shall either “falsify, destroy,
remove, conceal, alter, deface, or mutilate any writing, computer software, data, or
record” or “utter any writing or record, knowing it to have been tampered with.” Ohio
Rev. Code § 2913.42(A). Subsections (A)(1) clearly intends to prohibit acts such as the
falsification, destruction, or concealing of any “writing” or “record” as a whole, and does
not refer to the particular statements contained in the writing. Moreover, subsection
(A)(2) prohibits uttering a tampered writing or record, again referring to the whole and
not the parts. One can only utter a writing or record as a complete document.
If there were any doubt remaining, case law solidifies the answer. In State v.
Trammell, 3 N.E.3d 260 (Ohio App. 2013), the defendant was charged with 25 counts of
tampering based on signing five falsified contracts and submitting 20 falsified invoices.
Trammell, 3 N.E.3d at 271. Even though each contract and invoice contained multiple
false statements, the number of tampering charges hinged on the number of contracts and
invoices. Id. Here, Plaintiffs allege that Curtis tampered with four records: the Marlou
49

loan application, the Midwest HUD statement, the Midwest loan application, and the
8000 Hamilton loan application. Accordingly, Plaintiffs allege Curtis committed four
predicate acts of tampering with records. 28
Plaintiffs must prove that Curtis acted “with a purpose to commit fraud.”
Brunning, 983 N.E.2d at 323. Construing the facts in the light most favorable to
Plaintiffs, the evidence indicates that Curtis acted negligently by signing the loan
applications without reviewing their accuracy. This is insufficient as a matter of law to
constitute tampering. Tampering requires one to act “with the purpose to defraud.”
§ 2913.42(A). “Defraud” means to “knowingly obtain, by deception, some benefit for
oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by deception, some detriment to another.”
§ 2913.01(B). Plaintiffs offer no evidence that Curtis satisfied this mens rea. Nor is
there evidence that Curtis would not have received the loans but for the inaccurate
statements.
Curtis provided uncontradicted testimony that Barbara Hoffman completed the
information on the loan applications, which Curtis then signed apparently without
reviewing. (Doc. 195 at 55-56, 64, 76, 80). Hoffman completed at least four loan
applications for Curtis, including loans for the purchase of real estate that somehow were
not made part of this action. (Id. at 84, 153). Curtis’ purchase of Marlou and 8000
Hamilton has no connection to the Ponzi scheme that caused Plaintiffs’ injuries. Plaintiffs

28

Even if the allegations could amount to more than one tampering offense under that statute, the
OCPA provides that each incident of corrupt activity may not be “so closely related to each other
and connected in time and place that they constitute a single event.” Ohio Rev. Code
§ 2923.31(E).
50

offer no evidence about Marlou after its purchase on March 2, 2007. There is no
allegation or evidence that Marlou was ever presented as a property purchased with
investor monies or was in any way associated with CI, GMRE, or GMD. Instead, the
undisputed evidence demonstrates that James D. negotiated the purchase of Marlou with
Robinson to obtain easy money for himself, then substituted Curtis as the purchaser
minutes before the closing occurred. Curtis and his wife purchased 8000 Hamilton from
persons who have no involvement in this action. (Doc. 195 at 49, 103). These two real
estate purchases and the associated loan applications were made for Curtis and Curtis
alone. They were not listed among the 40 properties listed in the Real Estate Portfolio.
(Doc. 246, Ex. A). There is no evidence that anyone ever claimed they were owned by CI
or GMRE and no connection to the Ponzi scheme.
b.

Money laundering

Plaintiffs argue that Curtis committed money laundering by writing two checks to
James D. and by taking possession of Midwest after he purchased it from James Wilburn.
It is undisputed that on June 14, 2007 Curtis paid James D. $10,000 as a commission for
acting as the realtor on the sale of Midwest. (Doc. 198, Ex. N). It is also undisputed that
Curtis paid James D. $12,000 on September 12, 2007. (Id., Ex. P). The two checks
could only amount to money laundering under § 1315.55(A)(3) because there were not
proceeds of unlawful activity. “The act of transacting money alone does not amount to
money laundering.” Pugh, 2010 WL 2393603, at *4. Instead, Plaintiffs must offer proof
that Curtis wrote the checks to James D. “with the purpose to promote, manage, establish,
carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on of
51

corrupt activity.” § 1315.55(A)(3). Plaintiffs have failed to offer any evidence that
Curtis paid this money to James D. with the purpose to promote the Ponzi scheme.
Curtis provided uncontradicted explanations for each check. James D. approached
Curtis about the $10,000 commission; it was not something that Curtis initiated. (Doc. 19
at 65-68). Curtis had only learned about Midwest because of James D., so he consented
to paying the commission. (Id.) After that, Curtis did not speak with James D. again
until early September 2007, when James D. approached Curtis in a very desperate
manner talking about suicide. (Id. at 69-72). James D. said that he needed money to pay
the mortgage on his own house and adamantly asserted that he held equity in Midwest.
(Id.) Curtis was particularly sensitive to suicide because years earlier another cousin had
committed suicide and Curtis watched the children grow up without a father. (Id. at 70).
Eventually Curtis borrowed $12,000 from another family member and wrote a check on
September 12, 2007, which Curtis hoped would prevent his cousin James D. from also
committing suicide. (Id.; Doc. 198, Ex. P). It was not until Colwell committed suicide in
March 2008 that Curtis learned that James D.’s properties were in foreclosure and that
James D. had taken money from other investors. (Doc. 195 at 174, 181).
Plaintiffs offer no evidence suggesting that Curtis was aware of the Ponzi scheme
during this timeframe. Curtis testified that he had no knowledge of other investors until
after Colwell died in March 2008. (Doc. 195 at 174, 181). Plaintiffs attempt to impute
knowledge of the Ponzi scheme based primarily on hindsight. It is undisputed that Curtis
knew that James D. had squandered his $50,000 buy-in to C&J Properties, that James D.
wrote bad checks to Robinson, and that James D. had defaulted on his Midwest payments
52

to his father James Wilburn. (Doc. 195 at 20-22, 25-26). However, knowledge that
James D. had bounced a check or defaulted on a mortgage provides no basis to suggest
that Curtis was aware that James D. was operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded over 90
investors out of $9.2 million. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 8). Further, Plaintiffs offer no evidence
of why Curtis would want to assist that scheme. Curtis never received commission
checks nor any monetary benefit from CI. Accordingly, Plaintiffs cannot show that Curtis
wrote these two isolated checks “with the purpose to promote . . . corrupt activity.” Ohio
Rev. Code § 1315.55(A)(3). There is no evidence that connects Curtis, much less these
two particular transactions, with the Ponzi scheme.
3. Association and Participation
Even if Plaintiffs could establish that James Wilburn and Curtis committed
sufficient predicate acts to constitute a pattern of corrupt activity, Plaintiffs present no
evidence suggesting that either was “employed by, or associated with” the Ponzi scheme
enterprise or “conducted or participated in” that enterprise through the pattern of corrupt
activity. Miranda, 5 N.E.3d at 606. The evidence demonstrates that James Wilburn and
Curtis had no contemporaneous knowledge of the real estate securities Ponzi scheme
operated by James D. and Colwell with the assistance of persons such as Miller. To
overcome the motions for summary judgment, Plaintiffs must offer evidence that James
Wilburn or Curtis “was voluntarily connected to that pattern [of corrupt activity] and
performed two acts in furtherance of it.” Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d at 915. Next, Plaintiffs
also need to establish that either “performed activities necessary or helpful.” Beverly,
2015-Ohio-219, at ¶ 19. Finally, Plaintiffs need to show that either shared a “common
53

purpose” and “acted in concert” with James D., Colwell, and Miller. Griffin, 24 N.E.3d
at 1151. Stated otherwise, Plaintiffs must show that James Wilburn and Curtis
“conducted or participated in the conduct of the enterprise’s affairs, not just their own
affairs.” State v. Sparks, 10 N.E.3d 755, 760 (Ohio App. 2014) (quoting Ouwinga v.
Benistar 419 Plan Services, Inc., 694 F.3d 783, 792 (6th Cir. 2012)). Plaintiffs cite no
evidence in the record that would allow a reasonable jury to reach that conclusion.
The Court finds that the recent decision in State v. Sparks, 10 N.E.3d 755 (Ohio
App. 2014), although it primarily involved a venue challenge, is particularly insightful to
the level of association, participation, and common purpose necessary to show
participation in an enterprise. In Sparks, the defendant cultivated and trafficked
marijuana in Butler County, but was indicted and charged with engaging in a pattern of
corrupt activity in Warren County. Id. at 761. The prosecution argued that venue was
proper in Warren County because a chain of marijuana dealers connected Sparks to two
individuals, Lopez and Pagenstecher, who sold marijuana there. Id. The prosecution
contended this was sufficient to prove Sparks participated in a pattern of corrupt activity
to traffic marijuana in Warren County. Id. at 759. Because Lopez and Pagenstecher were
the only individuals to act in Warren County, the dispositive issue was whether those two
participated in an enterprise with Sparks. Id.
The Ohio appellate court reversed and vacated the conviction because the
prosecution failed to prove that the individuals “functioned as separate parts to form a
whole, with a shared, common purpose.” Sparks, 10 N.E.3d at 762. First, the evidence
showed that each person acted in his own financial self-interest because “the fact that
54

each individual involved made money selling marijuana and is guilty of associating with
others who buy or sell marijuana does not mean that they acted as a ‘continuing unit that
functions with a common purpose.’” Id. at 761. The court rejected the argument that a
common purpose of making money through the sale of marijuana was sufficient to show
an enterprise because there was no evidence that the individuals acted in concert:
[E]ach individual had his own separate and distinct “business” venture
when selling marijuana and that each individual participated in his own
affairs. There is no evidence that any of these individuals had any
involvement in the others’ business affairs; there is no evidence that they
joined together to make money for the same enterprise; and there is no
evidence demonstrating that their motive to make a profit was common in
the sense it supported the enterprise. While the various individuals may
have had the same purpose in selling their marijuana (i.e., to make money),
having the same purpose is not the equivalent of having a “common
purpose.”
Id. Although “each committed crimes by selling marijuana at some given point in time,”
there was no evidence that the individuals had a common purpose to act together:
[A] finding of “enterprise” would have required the state to prove that
Lopez and Pagenstecher voluntarily participated in, or were in fact,
associated with organized conduct for the purpose of an enterprise existing
between Sparks, Baker, and the Lampes. Neither Lopez nor Pagenstecher
did anything to further Sparks’ enterprise. Rather, they sold marijuana only
in furtherance of their own personal gain.
Id. at 762.
The court provided useful guidance to frame the current analysis: “the more
appropriate focus is upon the common purpose of the individuals involved, their
combined efforts in pursuing such common purpose, and their relationship with one
another.” Sparks, 10 N.E.3d at 763. In reaching its conclusion, the court noted the

55

limited holdings in Siferd, a case Plaintiffs rely heavily upon, and the Supreme Court in
Boyle:
Boyle and Siferd address only what is not necessary in order to find
association with an enterprise (i.e., formalized organization, participation in
a managerial capacity, and inter-relationship with all other enterprise
associates). At most, these cases provide guidance here to the extent that
the absence of formal organization, managerial control, and interaction with
certain other individuals associated with the enterprise is not dispositive of
whether a particular person has associated himself with that enterprise
based upon the particular facts of those cases. Boyle and Siferd do not hold
that the foregoing indicia are never relevant and important in determining
whether an individual has associated himself with an enterprise.
Id. at 764. The court in Sparks also distinguished the holding in Siferd based on the
numerous facts showing that the defendant was voluntarily associated with and
participated in the drug trafficking enterprise:
Siferd purchased substantial quantities of cocaine from enterprise
associates, fronted enterprise associates money to obtain cocaine for him,
offered enterprise associates an alternate source for cocaine when they did
not have any on hand, and was compensated by the enterprise for his
involvement with a reliable flow of cocaine and free cocaine. Many of
these features of an association are lacking in the case at bar.
Id. at 767. This Court finds that the same features are lacking here.
Here, Plaintiffs undisputedly demonstrate the existence of an enterprise to
fraudulently induce unsophisticated investors to roll over their IRA accounts into
investments in promissory notes offered by CI or GMD and purportedly backed by a real
estate portfolio owned by GMRE. Colwell, Miller, and other salesmen recruited
investors with false representations and promises, while James D. oversaw the backend
and created false account statements to lull investors into a false sense of security. All the
while these persons embezzled the investors’ money for their personal use and allowed
56

the few properties they actually owned to fall into disrepair and foreclosure. As the
investments slowed and the real estate bubble popped, Colwell committed suicide, while
James D. and Miller landed in prison. (Doc. 192, Ex. 1; Doc. 208, Ex. 9).
The Court is guided by the maxim that the “appropriate focus is upon the common
purpose of the individuals involved, their combined efforts in pursuing such common
purpose, and their relationship with one another.” Sparks, 10 N.E.3d at 763. Applying
the undisputed evidence to these factors, the Court finds that James Wilburn and Curtis
engaged in several self-centered real estate transactions wholly unrelated to that
investment scheme. Unlike in Siferd and Sparks where the sale of illegal drugs
necessarily meant that the individuals all participated in the same illicit market, there is
nothing inherently illegal about purchasing real estate, obtaining loans, or writing checks.
James D., Miller, and Colwell used legal means to obtain illegal results through a pattern
of corrupt activity. James Wilburn and Curtis, while they may have acted questionably at
specific times, did not share that common purpose of defrauding investors.
Although James Wilburn and Curtis shared a last name with one of the
participants, there is no evidence that either “conducted or participated in conduct that
pertained to [that] enterprise, rather than their own affairs.” Sparks, 10 N.E.3d at 761.
Curtis testified that he did not learn that James D.’s properties were in foreclosure or that
James D. had defrauded others out of money until Colwell committed suicide in March
2008. (Doc. 195 at 174, 181). James D. defrauded his cousin Curtis out of $62,000
through a purported investment opportunity. Curtis then went on to purchase three
properties for purely personal reasons. James Wilburn may have lent money to his cash57

strapped son, but there is no evidence he loaned that money intending to help perpetuate
the Ponzi scheme or that he even knew of its existence.
A reasonable jury could not find that James Wilburn or Curtis were associated
with and participated in the enterprise through a pattern of corrupt activity. Nor could a
reasonable jury find that James Wilburn or Curtis “agreed that others would commit the
acts that would establish the ‘pattern of corrupt activity.’” Feliciano, 685 N.E.2d at 1316.
4. Acquisition or Investment
Plaintiffs also cannot show that James Wilburn or Curtis violated § 2923.32(A)(2)
or (A)(3). An acquisition claim under § 2923.32(A)(2) requires proof that James Wilburn
or Curtis acquired property through a pattern of corrupt activity. Plaintiffs show only that
each acquired Midwest, but do not demonstrate that a pattern of corrupt activity allowed
that acquisition. Instead, James Wilburn acquired Midwest by exercising his creditor’s
rights under the Land Contract and Ohio law. Curtis then purchased Midwest from James
Wilburn through an arm’s-length transaction that was duly recorded. Plaintiffs provide
no factual support for their allegations that either engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Under § 2923.32(A)(3), James Wilburn and Curtis must have knowingly received
proceeds from the Ponzi scheme and then used those proceeds to purchase real estate.
Plaintiffs do not address this threshold element, contending only that an investment can
show proximate cause. Plaintiffs fail to see that the OCPA requires proof of a substantive
violation of § 2923.32(A)(3) before reaching the proximate cause analysis. The Supreme
Court of Ohio stressed that § 2923.32(A)(3) “refers to ‘knowingly’ receiving and
investing proceeds from a pattern of corrupt activity, presumably to protect innocent
58

investors, banks, etc.” Schlosser, 681 N.E.2d at 913 n.1. James Wilburn and Curtis are
just such innocent persons that the statute sought to exclude from criminal liability.
Plaintiffs cannot circumvent this intent in seeking to impose civil liability.
5. Proximate Cause
Finally, even if James Wilburn and Curtis did violate a substantive provision of the
OCPA, Plaintiffs cannot show this violation proximately caused their injuries. The
undisputed evidence shows that Plaintiffs lost their investment because James D. and
Colwell solicited unsophisticated investors with false promises of guaranteed returns and
a portfolio of real estate they did not own, and then James D. and Colwell used the
investments for personal purposes or to pay earlier investors. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9). In the
end, over 90 victims lost upward of $9.2 million.
In TJX Cos. v. Hall, 916 N.E.2d 862 (Ohio App. 2009), one of the defendants in an
OCPA civil action was criminally convicted of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity,
receiving stolen property in excess of $100,000, and money laundering. Id. at 867. The
defendant and her mother, who played a more active role in the case, participated in a
retail scheme that resulted in almost $2 million in stolen cash and merchandise. Id. at
867, 870. The criminal court found that the defendant “knew that the money she received
and controlled was the fruit of an illegal activity and that she expressed the knowledge of
the source of the money, which was the retail theft.” Id. at 868. In the civil action, these
finding were sufficient to conclusively establish that the defendant was an active
participant in the enterprise that caused the injury to the store and also proximately
caused that injury. Id.
59

While not dispositive, it is notable that James Wilburn and Curtis were never
investigated as part of any of the multiple state and federal criminal investigations into CI
and GMD. Even if James Wilburn and Curtis actually did everything of which they are
accused, Plaintiffs cannot show that this conduct proximately caused the loss of their
investments. Curtis acquired several pieces of real estate that undisputedly were not
connected to the Real Estate Portfolio. If Curtis used fraudulent mortgage loans to
finance those purchases, that injury would fall on the banks. However, Plaintiffs produce
no evidence that Curtis missed even a single mortgage payment.
In State v. Stevens, 11 N.E.3d 252 (Ohio 2014), the Supreme Court of Ohio
derided the recent expansion of the OCPA to reach those to those clearly not
intended to fall within its reach:
Should an 18-year-old high school senior who sells $10 worth of marijuana
to classmates be prosecuted as a first-degree felon under the Ohio RICO
Act merely because the drugs could be traced back to a multibillion-dollar
Colombian drug cartel? How would this put a damper on organized crime
in Ohio? That student is acting as an individual, and his conviction and
punishment would have no discernable effect on the fight against organized
crime.
Id. at 256. The same logic applies here. James D., Colwell, and Miller perpetrated a
Ponzi scheme that defrauded 90 victims out of $9.2 million. At best, Plaintiffs accuse
James Wilburn of giving James D. around $150,000, cancelling a land contract for the
sale of a trailer park several months after James D. defaulted, and then selling that trailer
park to his nephew. Curtis is accused of submitting false loan applications, purchasing a
trailer park from his uncle, and giving James D. $22,000. The evidence shows that James
Wilburn and Curtis acted as individuals, not as part of a Ponzi scheme. Imposing civil
60

liability with the attendant treble damages would necessitate stretching the OCPA beyond
its limits.
There is no evidence that James Wilburn or Curtis violated a substantive provision
of the OCPA or conspired with others to do the same. Further, there is no evidence that
Plaintiffs’ lost investments were proximately caused by any act or omission of James
Wilburn or Curtis. Accordingly, James Wilburn and Curtis are entitled to judgment as a
matter of law on Plaintiffs’ OCPA and OCPA conspiracy claims. 29
VI.

FEDERAL RICO

Plaintiffs also move for summary judgment against James D. and Miller on one of
their RICO claims. The federal RICO statute is substantially similar to the OCPA. See
Beverly, 2015-Ohio-219, at ¶ 3. RICO provides a private cause of action “[a]ny person
injured in his business or property by reason of a violation of” one of the statute’s four
criminal provisions. 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). Plaintiffs’ amended complaint alleged
violations of all four provisions, but their motion for summary judgment only recounts
the elements for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). (Doc. 208 at 23).
Plaintiffs must prove the following elements: “(1) conduct (2) of an enterprise
(3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity.” In re ClassicStar Mare Lease Litig.,
727 F.3d 473, 487 (6th Cir. 2013). The OCPA equivalent is Ohio Rev. Code
§ 2923.32(A)(1), which Plaintiffs have established James D. violated. Accordingly,
Plaintiffs have established that James D. committed a substantive 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).

29

James Wilburn’s motion to sever; motion to bifurcate; and motion to exclude evidence
(Doc. 207) is therefore DENIED as moot.
61

Although RICO generally excludes “any conduct that would have been actionable
as fraud in the purchase or sale of securities to establish a violation of section 1962,” that
exception “does not apply to an action against any person that is criminally convicted in
connection with the fraud.” 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). James D. agreed in his statement of
facts that promissory notes issued by CI and GMD constituted “securities” within the
meaning of federal and state securities law. (Doc. 208, Ex. 9 at 2). This is sufficient to
remove the limitation on civil actions in 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). James D. proximately
caused Plaintiffs’ injury under the RICO analysis and the OCPA analysis. Accordingly,
Plaintiffs are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on their 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) RICO
claim against James D.
Plaintiffs have failed to show that Miller violated 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). 30 Plaintiffs
present no evidence nor even any argument on this claim with respect to Miller. 31
Accordingly, Plaintiffs have failed to show that they are entitled to judgment as a matter
of law against Miller.

30

The Court reiterates its conclusion that Plaintiffs did not move for summary judgment on count
five, which asserted a RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). Plaintiffs conspicuously did
move for summary judgment on their OCPA conspiracy claim. (Doc. 208 at 26-27).
31

The only two sentences that pertain to the RICO claim against Miller provide: “Miller has
been convicted of federal securities crimes ‘in connection with securities fraud.’ For that reason,
Bradleys have established their federal RICO claim against Miller.” (Doc. 208 at 50-51).
Beyond the inaccuracy that Miller was not convicted of a federal securities crime, that alone
would not be sufficient to satisfy the remaining elements.
62

VII.

CONCLUSION

Wherefore, for these reasons, the Court finds as follows:
+ The motions for summary judgment filed by Defendants James Wilburn Powell
and Curtis Powell (Docs. 198, 205) are GRANTED; and Plaintiffs’ cross motion for
summary against Defendants James Wilburn Powell and Curtis Powell (Doc. 208) is
DENIED. As no claims remain pending against Defendants James Wilburn Powell and
Curtis Powell, Defendants James Wilburn Powell and Curtis Powell are hereby
DISMISSED from this action.
+ Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 208) is GRANTED as to their
claims for violations of OCPA, OCPA conspiracy, and RICO (18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) only)
against Defendant James D. Powell. 32
+ Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 208) is GRANTED as to their
OCPA conspiracy claim against Defendant Kevin Miller.
+ Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (Doc. 208) is DENIED as to the
OCPA and RICO claims against Defendant Miller. 33

32

The Bradleys originally asserted eleven claims against Defendants James D. Powell and Kevin
Miller. (Doc. 46).
The following six claims remain pending against Defendant James D. Powell:
(a) count two, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(a); (b) count three, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(b); (c) count five, 18
U.S.C. § 1962(d); (d) count eight, fraud; (e) count nine, breach of contract; and (f) count ten,
negligence. The Court sua sponte dismisses count eleven, fraudulent transfer, and count twelve,
civil conspiracy, as these claims are barred by the statute of limitations. See supra pp. 23-29.
33

The following eight claims remain pending against Defendant Kevin Miller: (a) count two, 18
U.S.C. § 1962(a); (b) count three, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(b); (c) count four, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c); (d)
count five, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); (e) count six, Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.32; (f) count eight, fraud;
(g) count nine, breach of contract; and (h) count ten, negligence. The Court sua sponte dismisses
63

Within fourteen days of the entry date of this Order, Plaintiffs shall advise the
Court in writing whether they intend to pursue their remaining claims. 34
The determination of James D. Powell’s and Kevin Miller’s damages also remains
pending before the Court. 35 Plaintiffs shall evidence their damages and attorney’s fees as
against James D. Powell and Kevin Miller by filing a verified pleading within twenty-one
days of the entry date of this Order, and James D. Powell and Kevin Miller shall respond
in opposition within fourteen days of that filing. Plaintiffs may reply within ten days.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: 3/30/2015

s/ Timothy S. Black
Timothy S. Black
United States District Judge

count eleven, fraudulent transfer, and count twelve, civil conspiracy, as these claims are barred
by the statute of limitations. See supra pp. 23-29.
Finally, Plaintiff Cora Pyles’ securities law claim in count one remains pending against
Defendant Kevin Miller.
34

See supra notes 32-33.

35

The Court notes that default judgment as to liability and damages was previously entered
against Defendants CI, GMD, and GMRE. (Doc. 188). The Court found that Plaintiffs Diana
and James Bradley evidenced $134,354.46 in damages, which were trebled pursuant to Ohio
Rev. Code § 2923.34(F). (Id.) Accordingly, the Court found Defendants CI, GMD, and GMRE
jointly and severally liable for $403,063.40 in damages. (Id.) Presumably, Plaintiffs will also
seek to hold Defendants James D. Powell and Kevin Miller jointly and severally liable for this
amount.
64