Wickliffe Man Ran Scheme to Defraud Snow Removal Companies by Charging for Rock Salt Never Delivered

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio
January 13, 2011

Anthony L. Trivisonno, 35, of Wickliffe, Ohio, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $95,125 in restitution after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud, United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced today.

Trivisonno ran a scheme to defraud snow removal companies in Michigan and Illinois between November 2008 and Janury 2009, according to court documents.

He represented that he sold bulk amounts of rock salt by and through two companies: Erie Shore Capital Ltd., of Cleveland, and Tri-State Salt Co., of Wickliffe. As part of his scheme, Trivisonno received pre-payments from snow removal companies but then never provided the rock salt. He avoided dealing with irate customers by telling them their shipments were delayed, or he failed to return their calls, according to court documents.

Approximately six snow removal companies were defrauded out of $95,125 as a result of Trivisonno’s fraudulent activity, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry DeBaggis following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.