Ohio officials charge 18 in telemarketing probe

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio officials say they’ve broken up a telemarketing ring that stole millions from people in 41 states over the last five years.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the suspects targeted land owners and led them to believe their land was worth more than it really was. He says the suspects then convinced the land owners to pay fees of $500 to nearly $16,000 to guarantee the sale of their land.

An indictment says there were never any buyers or sales completed.

The attorney general’s office said Monday that 18 people from Ohio, Florida, Indiana, and New York have been charged. Thirteen people are in custody.

Officials say the enterprise was centered in southwest Ohio and operated from several locations including Troy, Huber Heights and Vandalia.