A Marion, Ohio, real estate developer was indicted on 15 felony counts related to shady business dealings, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.
Paul Rowlen, 38, of Marion, was indicted in Marion County Common Pleas Court for allegedly forging deeds and stealing the identities of older adult victims, some of them deceased.
Rowlen faces 15 felony charges, including one county of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity (F1), six counts of forgery (F3 and F4), six counts of identity theft (F2 and F3) and two counts of theft (F2 and F4). In certain counts, the felony is elevated if the crime was committed against a victim of a protected class, such as older adults.
The indictment alleges tat Rowlen, as owner of RDM Management LLC., forged documents to take possession of residential property without the victim’s knowledge and then rehabbed the homes for sale.
The case was investigated by the Marion Police Department.
Attorneys from Yost’s Special Prosecution Section are prosecuting the case. The section is part of the attorney general’s Elder Justice Unit, which also includes teams focused on crime victim services, consumer protection, and health care fraud, as well as the AG’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.