A Youngstown businessman and former candidate for Ohio State Representative has been accused of theft, money laundering, telecommunications fraud and securing writing by deception in Summit County.
A Summit County grand jury indicted Brandon Kovach on five felony charges, with one count of aggravated theft equaling $410,000, a third-degree felony in Ohio.
The felony charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred August 22, 2019, through December 3, 2021.
The remaining charges include:
Grand Theft equaling $50,000 – a fourth-degree felony
Telecommunications fraud – a second-degree felony
Securing writing by deception – a third-degree felony
Money laundering – a third-degree felony
In Feburary 2026, Kovach announced his campaign to represent Ohio’s 58th District.
At that time, the candidate said he was running as an Independent, citing fundamental disagreements with both political parties and describing himself as “fiscally conservative, but socially liberal.”
He elaborated by describing his plan as “Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump combined.”
In response to asking about plans for continuing his campaign following the indictment, Kovach told 21 News, “I had previously resigned from the campaign for the 58th. That’s old news there.”
In 2021, Kovach and Mill Creek MetroParks announced a $1 million donation by Kovach to the MetroParks Foundation’s Benefactor Trust. Kovach was set to be named a benefactor of the Lily Pond Endowment fund.
MetroParks Community Engagement Director Jaime Yohman said that, after years since the donation announcement, the foundation did not see any of the money promised.
“Mr. Kovach offered a pledge of $1 million as the naming benefactor of the Lily Pond Endowment fund. His pledge was never finalized; the donation did not transpire. To date, the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation has left the door open for the pledge to be fulfilled,” Yohman told 21 News.
He previously served as President of Cornerstone Capital, an insurance and investment services firm. At the firm, he also oversaw the charity and non-profit division.
Kovach has also owned 40 businesses, primarily in Ohio.
21 News has reached out to Kovach and his legal counsel and has not yet received a comment regarding the indictment or the donation to the Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation.
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