Ex-state auditor of Leetonia pleads innocent to helping buisnessman evade taxes

YOUNGSTOWN

A former auditor in the Ohio Department of Taxation’s city office pleaded innocent earlier this week, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

In a federal indictment unsealed this week, Stephen Varkony Jr., is accused of helping convenience store owner Mohd Rawhneh underreport state sales tax. Varkony of Leetonia, posted a $20,000 bond.

Rawhneh, 54, of Boardman, isn’t charged in the indictment, but he pleaded guilty last week in a related case, to two counts of violating the Hobbs Act and one count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness, victim or informant.

Also in the related case, Atty. Scott Cochran, 43, of Austintown, and Atty. Neal Atway, 47, of Youngstown, are charged with two counts each of violating the Hobbs Act; two counts each of conspiracy to tamper with a witness, victim or informant; and one count each of making false statements to law enforcement.

The convenience stores owned by Rawhneh for which Varkony is accused of filing the sales tax returns are the Superette in East Liverpool, Drive Thru in Kent, Frank’s Drive Thru in Ravenna, Tiger’s Den Drive Thru in Howland, OH Food Market in East Liverpool and One Stop in Hanoverton.

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