A Republican who unsuccessfully ran for an open Ohio Senate seat is accused of embezzling millions of dollars that he used, in part, to help fund his failed political bid.
Three companies, including Cleveland-based 3B Holdings, filed suit in Summit County Common Pleas Court against Jonathan Leissler, accusing him of embezzling more than $4.1 million from the company. The lawsuit alleges Leissler “used company credit cards to make unauthorized ‘donations’ of approximately $800,000 to his own campaign in October 2024 alone.”
Cleveland-based SecuraStock and Cleveland-based Parts Control Plus joined 3B Holdings in the lawsuit. The filing also names Leissler’s wife Michele, Aurora-based Craftzilla, Stow-based Hero Spirits, Stow-based Reality Recess Holdings, and John Does, who benefited from the embezzled money.
3B hired Leissler as its Chief Financial Officer in March 2022. The suit alleges that in August 2022, “Leissler embarked on a brazen scheme to embezzle substantial monies from Plaintiffs,” including “unauthorized increased pay and/or bonuses.”
According to the lawsuit, Leissler’s authorized salary and bonuses were $105,780 in 2022, $170,774 in 2023, and $155,130 in 2024. However, the suit alleges Leissler paid himself roughly $353,929 in 2022, $747,922 in 2023, and more than $2.2 million from January 2024 through October 2024.
It also claims that he used the money to pay up to $200,000 toward his residential mortgage, pay off his wife’s Chrysler Pacifica valued at roughly $25,000, buy a 2024 Jeep Wrangler for roughly $40,000, pay his student loans and make a $400,000 down payment for a more than $1.6 million South Carolina beach condominium. The suit also alleges he used the money to buy crypto mining machines or cryptocurrency and pay for start-up companies’ services, equipment and materials, including up to $500,000 in Hero Spirits and roughly $1 million in Craftzilla.
Filings with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office show Leissler made two loans to his Senate campaign, more than $59,000 in December 2023 and $250,000 in August 2024.
The suit alleges that Leissler’s wife should have known the money was ill-gotten gain and that his actions have put the company’s viability at risk.
“Leissler’s actions have jeopardized the stability of the Company and livelihoods of its employees and their families,” 3B Holdings CEO Leonard Bashkin said in the affidavit. “Simply stated, the theft of in excess of 4 Million Dollars presents an economic hardship to the Company.
“...I have serious concerns regarding Jonathan’s ability to pay any judgment in this matter given his uncontrollable and ill-conceived spending, as well as the initial steps he has already taken to sequester, liquidate, and attempt to liquidate recoverable assets,” Bashkin added. “Upon information and belief, Jonathan is likely to liquidate all remaining available assets and conceal the same and/or flee the jurisdiction of this Court to prevent recovery by the Company.”
According to an affidavit Bashkin filed, he learned of the purported embezzlement on Nov. 4. The following day, the day state Rep. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, defeated Leissler to pick up an open 28th Senate District seat, Bashkin and two Stow police officers “confronted” Leissler at his home.
“You understand that you are terminated, and you know why?” Bashkin asked, according to the suit, which claims Leissler’s response was, “Yes, I do.”
“Prior to the commencement of the lawsuit by his employer, Mr. Leissler did meet with representatives of his employer to discuss the allegations made against him,” attorney Frank Mazgaj told the Akron Beacon Journal via email.
The lawsuit asked the court to issue a restraining order against “the depletion or alienation of said assets” as immediate injunctive relief. Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael ordered Leissler to submit an inventory of assets and required him to submit any proceeds from selling any properties to the Summit County Clerk of Courts.
