$464,000 Fraud Scheme Hits Solon Company, County Prosecutor Says

SOLON, OH — Four people have been indicted for a fraud scheme that allegedly cost a Solon construction company $464,000. The charges are the result of a seven-month investigation into four people.

In a 91 count indictment, Sharon Collier, of Twinsburg, Michael Collier, her husband, their son, and Sharon's sister Sarah Niehoff are all named. Charges include theft, receiving stolen property, forgery, money laundering and telecommunications fraud.

According to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley, Sharon was the office manager for a company called Taylored Construction, based in Solon. Between 2013 and 2017, she managed financial operations and had signature authority on all business accounts.

O'Malley's office said in a press release that Sharon forged checks, used credit cards and stole money from the company's loans. She then allegedly spent the money, alongside her husband, on travel, a wedding, college tuition, student loan payments, spa visits, restaurants, groceries and other purchases.

More than $45,000 of the stolen funds were ATM withdrawals made at the Thistledown Racino, O'Malley said. Sharon also allegedly wrote fraudulent payroll checks to her son, totaling more than $37,000.

“The Glenwillow Police Department's extensive investigation with my offices Economic Crime Unit uncovered this nearly half-million dollar fraud,” said Prosecutor O’Malley in a press release. “This greedy family almost brought a hardworking business to its knees.”

O'Malley said that Niehoff also made more than $200,000 in cash deposits to her personal bank account in Cincinnati. Arraignment is scheduled for April 10.

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