The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that eight Akron-area men were charged in association with mail fraud and charitable bingo scams. According to the article, four individuals submitted false rebate requests to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for cartons of cigarettes that were never sold. This scam allegedly ran from 2000 to 2002 and netted participants more than $800,000.00.

In 2002, a new scheme was developed whereby the same individuals, as well as new participants, opened three instant bingo parlors in Akron. In Ohio, instant bingo must ordinarily be conducted by a charitable organization or a veterans / fraternal organization. The participants allegedly got around this requirement by making illegal donations to charities in exchange for using the charities’ bingo licenses, or in one case, obtaining a bingo license in the name of a charity without that charity’s permission. According to the article, the bingo scams brought in more than $2,500,000.00.