Former Ohio State employee, 2 others plead guilty to financial fraud
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A former Ohio State employee and two others pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, according to federal prosecutors.
Between 2007 and 2020, Michael Brammer, 59, of Pataskala, falsely classified computers and other university equipment as recyclable and then sold them to two recycling vendors while he was employed in the university's surplus department, prosecutors said.
The equipment was sold to Abraham Amira, 60, and Robert Howard, 73, both of Columbus, for 'artificially low prices,' according to prosecutors. In return for the equipment, Amira and Howard paid cash directly to Brammer.
Brammer received at least $650,000 in cash from Amira and Howard that would've otherwise belonged to the surplus department, prosecutors said. During the course of the fraud, Ohio State University received more than $10,000 in federal grants.
Amira pleaded guilty on Friday to the surplus fraud and also separate COVID-19-related fraud, according to prosecutors. In addition to the surplus fraud, he fraudulently received and spent more than $800,000 of COVID-19 relief money.
Brammer and Howard had previously pleaded guilty to the surplus fraud.
The three men will be sentenced at a later date. Each faces up to five years in prison for the surplus fraud. Amira faces up to 20 years in prison for an additional wire fraud charge.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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