Dayton Officials Indicted in Fraud & Bribery Scheme

DAYTON, OH – A shadow of corruption hangs over Dayton City Hall after a federal grand jury returned indictments against a former city commissioner, a current city official, and two local businessmen, alleging a tangled web of fraud and bribery. The indictments, announced Thursday, paint a grim picture of officials allegedly prioritizing personal gain over the public trust.

Joey Williams, former Dayton City Commissioner, is accused of accepting bribes exceeding $5,000 while in office. Serving from 2001 until 2018, Williams allegedly traded political influence for personal favors. Specifically, the indictment alleges Williams accepted a heavily discounted construction project on his personal home in 2015 from an unnamed individual in exchange for steering city contracts their way. That individual’s business subsequently landed at least $150,000 in contracts with both the City of Dayton and CityWide Development Corporation, a key development arm of the city. The scheme allegedly netted Williams over $50,000 in benefits, including cash and a newly constructed patio, concealed through a fabricated invoice.

Alongside Williams, Roshawn Winburn, the current Director of Dayton’s Minority Business Assistance Center, faces charges of wire fraud and public corruption. U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman stated the grand jury alleges Winburn “devised a scheme that deprived the people of Dayton of their right to the honest and faithful services of its public officials.” The investigation, Glassman noted, remains ongoing.

The scheme extends to the private sector, with Clayton Luckie, a local businessman, charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Luckie allegedly misrepresented his company as a legitimate disadvantaged business to exploit federal and state programs designed to support them. In 2016 or early 2017, he reportedly offered his company’s fraudulent certification to a demolition company in exchange for securing a city contract. He’s accused of affixing magnetic signs with his company’s name to the demolition company’s trucks and submitting false invoices to the City of Dayton.

Rounding out the indictments, Brian Higgins is charged with wire fraud related to a fraudulent insurance claim. The indictment details a claim exceeding $100,000 submitted for water damage to the Meeker Residence, an 8,000 square-foot Dayton home. The damage, allegedly caused by a 600-gallon fish tank, was never properly repaired, yet Higgins is accused of submitting falsified invoices and repair estimates to the insurance company for personal gain.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI, the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the Ohio Auditor of State. U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the agencies involved, signaling a commitment to rooting out corruption within Dayton’s government and business sectors. The case serves as a stark reminder that no one is above the law, even those entrusted with serving the public.

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