10/17/2025
WAYNE and SUSAN ESSEX, of Butler Township, have been indicted for the theft of some $8,000,000 in investor money. Essex started offering to sell investments in opportunity zones to some of the clients of his accounting business and people he went to church with. (Basically anyone he knew with money) Essex invested NONE of the money and instead spent it on their personal expenses, like buying a $200,000 Mercedes, and spending $70,000 eating out. Wayne Essex was indicted on 189 high level felony counts, and Susan Essex was indicted on 6 counts.
If you know of anyone who may have been scammed by Essex, call the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Securities Investor Protection Hotline at 877-683-7841 and report it.
Butler Township Couple Indicted for Securities Fraud
State v. Wayne Essex and Susan Essex, 2025-CR-2587
DAYTON, OH (10/16/2025)-Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr. announced that WAYNE T. ESSEX, 70, and his wife, SUSAN ESSEX, 67, of Butler Township, have been indicted on multiple felony counts related to the advertisement and sale of fraudulent securities in a "Ponzi" scheme.
The defendants owned and operated Essex and Associates, an accounting and tax preparation business in Washington Township. During the years 2020 through 2025, the defendants offered to sell investments in opportunity zones. The investments were purportedly for properties in Florida and other locations. Most buyers were told they could expect on average a 10% annual return on their investments. Instead, none of the funds were invested, and instead were used for the Essex's personal expenses and to pay other investors in a classic Ponzi scheme. Many of the investors were elderly victims, many of whom the defendant knew through his church.
The case was investigated by the Ohio Department of Commerce and Prosecutor Heck's Consumer Fraud Unit. In all, over 25 victims have been identified, and they invested nearly $11,500,000. Some of the victims have been refunded, but there are still over $8,000,000 in missing funds.
Today, the Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted defendant Wayne Essex for:
12 counts Telecommunications Fraud >$1,000,000
39 counts False Representation in Sale of Securities
37 counts Unlicensed Sale of Securities
37 counts Securities Fraud
21 counts Issuing False Statement as to Value of Securities
20 counts Theft from Person in Protected Class
12 counts Grand Theft
10 counts Aggravated Theft
1 count Money Laundering
Defendant Susan Essex has been indicted for:
Six 2 counts Grand Theft
1 count Money Laundering
1 count Securities Fraud
1 count False Representation in Sale of Securities
1 count Unlicensed Sale of Securities
In 2012, the Ohio Department of Commerce filed a civil suit against the defendants for similar activity. In that case, a permanent injunction was ordered by the court, which barred the defendant and any of his associates from ever selling, offering to sell, or otherwise issuing securities or offering investments for the rest of his life.
Prosecutor Heck said, "These defendants took advantage of people from their church by promising them a nice return on their investment and instead took the money and paid for their own expenses, such as a $200,000 Mercedes, and spent $70,000 on dining out! The defendants will now be held accountable for their actions and potentially face very lengthy prison sentences."
Ohioans who are considering an investment or suspect they have been scammed should contact the Division of Securities' Investor Protection Hotline at 877-683-7841 or visit https://com.chio.gov/divisions-and-programs/securities/file-a-complaint-securities to file a complaint.
Meanwhile, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr., said if you or someone you know has invested money with Wayne Essex, Susan Essex, or Essex and Associates, please contact the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Securities Investor Protection Hotline at 877-683-7841 or https://com.ohio.gov/divisions-and-programs/securities/file-a-complaint-securities to file a complaint.
