Ex-Geis Cos. official embezzled $1 million from Streetsboro construction company, feds say

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A former top official for Geis Companies is accused of stealing $1 million from the Streetsboro construction and real estate development business to help pay for child support.

Michael Harman, 45, of Ravenna is charged in federal court in Cleveland with wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns. Harman, a certified public accountant, was the company’s controller and was in charge of the companies’ finances.

He was charged via information, instead of a grand jury indictment. Harman’s attorneys, Ian Friedman and Eric Long, said their client intends to plead guilty to the charges. A court date has not yet been set.

“In resolving this matter by way of information, Michael has clearly demonstrated his acceptance of responsibility and his desire to bring closure to all effected parties,” Friedman and Long said in a statement. “We anticipate presenting Michael’s many positive qualities and community contributions to the court at the time of sentencing.”

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Geis officials for comment.

Harman stole money from the companies from 2016 through 2020, according to court records. As part of his job, he controlled some of the companies’ payroll, prosecutors said.

He used the companies’ credit card and bank accounts to pay for more than $1 million worth of personal expenses and caused a San Francisco-based company that worked with Geis to send $28,283 to a bank account Harman controlled.

Harman used $90,929 to pay for child support and $12,296 for moving expenses, according to federal prosecutors.

He is also accused of failing to accurately report his income on his federal taxes because they did not account for the money he’s accused of stealing.

The case is assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver.

In recent years, Geis Companies grew into one of the region’s most well-known developers. It built Cuyahoga County’s headquarters and the Metropolitan at The 9 in downtown Cleveland, among other high-profile projects.

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