Former Ohio Senate Candidate Pleads Guilty to $4.5M Wire Fraud Scheme

CLEVELAND – A Summit County man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after defrauding his employer, a police organization, and an online fundraising company out of millions of dollars.

According to court documents, from about March 2022 to November 2024, Jonathan Leissler, 44, of Stow, Ohio, worked at an industrial supply company in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, as its chief financial officer (CFO). This role allowed him access to sensitive data such as payroll, expenditures, accounts payable, and company credit cards. He created fake payroll records to receive unauthorized payments, with amounts ranging from about $5,000 to $20,000 per transaction in addition to his regular salary.

In December 2023, he began his bid for a seat on the Ohio Senate representing District 28. He utilized an online fundraising platform to collect donations toward his election campaign which were deposited into a designated “Leissler for Ohio” bank account. Using his employer’s company credit cards, Leissler proceeded to make unauthorized donations to his own election campaign. Then, he would request a refund of the donation. The refund request would trigger the fundraising platform to withdraw funds from the “Leissler for Ohio” bank account. However, Leissler changed the bank account associated with his campaign to a different, non-existent bank account before the funds could be withdrawn to process the refund.

Leissler also had access to a second source of funds through a local fraternal order of police (FOP). From about December 2021 to November 2024, he was the treasurer for the organization and held a debit card and checkbook for the FOP account, which he used to make numerous unauthorized withdrawals and expenditures. He regularly reported to FOP leadership that the account balance was significantly higher than he knew it to be.

Federal investigators found that Leissler used embezzled funds to charter private planes, travel, provide a down payment for a vacation property in South Carolina, and make mortgage payments for the vacation property as well as his residential home. He also used funds to pay for credit cards, vehicles, cryptocurrency mining equipment, and to start up a side business. He also paid for advertising to encourage voters to support his election to the Ohio Senate.

Leissler’s actions resulted in victims being defrauded of approximately $4.5 million in combined losses.

Leissler was charged by a bill of information on Nov. 12 and pleaded guilty Dec. 17 to three counts of wire fraud. Leissler faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 8, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.

Note:

Updated 2-5-26 with sentencing date.