Ga. contractor indicted in Ohio on fraud charges

CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a Georgia contractor on charges of defrauding an Ohio company of nearly $1.7 million.

Prosecutors say 39-year-old Vernon Menifee of Marietta, Ga., has said he needed the money for post-Hurricane Katrina construction projects.

Menifee was indicted Wednesday on 44 counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and one count each of conspiracy to commit loan fraud and making false loan application statements.

Prosecutors say Menifee defrauded Schottco Corp. and a subsidiary between 2006 and 2008 and used some of the money to open a bar instead of completing construction projects. His Cincinnati business worked in New Orleans and leased vehicles from the subsidiary.