Seckman Arrested in Conjunction with Light Bulb Scheme

February 3, 2010

WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE FOR TUESDAY 2 FEB 2010

On November 9, 2009 in conjunction with the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Major Crimes Task Force executed search warrants at properties owned by Samuel Seckman at 49270 Bissell Road, Long Bottom, OH, and at 42177 State Route 7, Tuppers Plains, OH.

The search warrants were part of an investigation into allegations that Seckman, under the guise of his company called Universal Products, sold the Washington County Commissioners $40,000 worth of light bulbs, a majority of which were never delivered. Seckman also allegedly submitted invoices for chemicals that were never delivered.

In the affidavit requesting the search warrant in Meigs County Common Pleas Court, Detective Scott Parks alleges that former maintenance supervisor Chuck Moody bragged about receiving kickbacks from “Sam, that light bulb guy,” and of 143 cases light bulbs ordered; only thirty-eight were delivered. During that search over $24,000 in cash was recovered from a safe located in Seckman’s home.

On February 1, 2010, based upon information obtained during the search warrant and other investigative information, Detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for Seckman. Seckman was charged with a third degree felony offense of falsifying records. Seckman was arrested this afternoon by law enforcement and is currently being detained in Meigs County until transportation to the Washington County Jail can be arranged.

Seckman’s coconspirator and former Washington County Courthouse maintenance supervisor Charles Moody is also in custody at the South Central Regional Jail in Charleston, WV. Moody was arrested last night at a hotel near Charleston by the West Virginia State Police. Moody is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court in Charleston on Friday.