Crypto Chaos in Cincinnati: A Victim’s Tale and Dave Yost’s Fight for Ohio

 

How a Local Woman Lost Thousands and Why Dave Yost Could Be the Governor Ohio Needs.

In the quiet suburbs of Cincinnati, a chilling reminder of the digital age’s dark side unfolded this spring. A local woman fell prey to a cunning cryptocurrency scam, losing over $35,000 to faceless thieves lurking behind computer screens. But this story isn’t just about one person’s misfortune—it’s a testament to the relentless efforts of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a man who’s spent decades safeguarding Ohioans from such predators and is now vying to lead the state as its next governor. As the Buckeye State gears up for the 2026 gubernatorial race, Yost’s track record and vision make a compelling case for why he could be the leader Ohioans deserve.

The Cincinnati Crypto Scam: A Modern Heist

The ordeal began innocently enough. On an ordinary day in early 2025, the Cincinnati-area woman—whose identity remains protected—received a pop-up alert on her computer, warning of a security breach. Panicked, she followed instructions from a supposed “tech support” agent who convinced her that her savings were at risk. The solution? Convert her money into cryptocurrency and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM for “safekeeping.” By the time she realized the ruse, $35,000 was gone—siphoned away by scammers exploiting her trust.

But this wasn’t the end of her story. Enter Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), a specialized unit under Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. On April 10, 2025, Yost and Delhi Township Police Chief Jeff Braun announced a breakthrough: the BCI’s Electronic Fraud Investigations team had tracked down and recovered the full $35,000, returning it to the victim. According to the official release from Yost’s office (ohioattorneygeneral.gov), this victory marked another win for a unit launched in summer 2024 to combat the rising tide of crypto-related crimes—a scourge that’s hit Ohio hard, with losses in the millions annually.

The scam itself followed a familiar playbook: a fake alert, a high-pressure pitch, and a demand for crypto payment. It’s a tactic Yost has seen too often, warning Ohioans, “Criminals are hitting cryptocurrency scams hard, which can have a lasting impact on your bank account and your credit history.” This Cincinnati case underscores the stakes—and Yost’s commitment to turning victims into victors.

Dave Yost: A Lifetime of Public Service

Dave Yost isn’t a newcomer to Ohio’s public stage. Born in 1956, this Columbus native has dedicated over 30 years to serving the state, blending a journalist’s curiosity—honed at Ohio State University—with a lawyer’s precision from Capital University Law School. His career kicked off in the 1980s as a reporter for the Columbus Citizen-Journal, but he soon pivoted to public service, working under Columbus Mayor Buck Rinehart and Governor George Voinovich.

Yost’s political journey began in earnest in 1999 when he was appointed Delaware County Auditor, a role he leveraged to root out inefficiencies. By 2003, he’d stepped up to Delaware County Prosecutor, sharpening his focus on justice. His statewide ascent came in 2010 as Ohio’s 32nd State Auditor, a position he held until 2019, when he became the 51st Attorney General. Now, in 2025, Yost has set his sights on the governorship, announcing his candidacy on January 23 to succeed term-limited Mike DeWine.

Accomplishments That Speak Volumes

Yost’s resume is a laundry list of wins for Ohioans. As Auditor, he uncovered $260 million in government inefficiencies—proving he was “DOGE before DOGE was cool,” as he quipped in a 2025 interview with News 5 Cleveland. Since taking the AG’s office in 2019, he’s racked up 170 criminal convictions for public corruption, including the high-profile House Bill 6 scandal, where he brought down FirstEnergy execs and saved taxpayers over $1 billion. His antitrust suit against Google, challenges to Biden’s border policies, and Supreme Court victory against a COVID vaccine mandate showcase his tenacity.

But it’s his protection of everyday Ohioans that stands out. In 2023, he shut down eight sham charities, fining their operators $190,000 for scamming donors (WLWT). In October 2024, his fraud unit clawed back $130,000 for a 75-year-old Worthington woman duped in a crypto scam—foreshadowing the Cincinnati recovery. And after the 2023 East Palestine train derailment, Yost’s 58-count lawsuit against Norfolk Southern demanded accountability for “glaring negligence.” Time and again, he’s been the shield between Ohioans and those who’d exploit them.

Why Yost Would Be a Great Governor

Ohioans, imagine a governor who’s walked every county, who knows your struggles—from kids graduating illiterate to a population graying faster than it’s growing. Yost’s not just a suit in Columbus; he’s a fighter who’s proven he can tackle big challenges. His goal-based approach to policy, as he told Ohio Capital Journal in February 2025, promises to shift from reacting to problems to setting a bold vision: better schools, safer streets, and a government that works for you.

Yost’s three decades in public service mean he’s no stranger to Ohio’s heartbeat. He’s battled criminals—digital and otherwise—while championing constitutional rights, like defending the Second Amendment and enforcing (then respecting) Ohio’s abortion laws post-2023 voter amendment. His independent streak—calling out fellow Republicans when needed—shows he’s not beholden to party lines but to Ohio’s people. And with Trump’s 2022 endorsement in his pocket, he’s got the clout to unify a red-leaning state without losing sight of the center.

A Call to Ohioans

The Cincinnati woman’s story could’ve ended in despair, but Dave Yost turned it around. That’s the kind of leadership Ohio needs in its next governor—someone who doesn’t just talk about protection but delivers it, from crypto scams to corporate corruption. With a proven record spanning over 30 years, Yost’s not just running for office; he’s running for you. As he said, “I believe it’s my duty to walk this path.” Come 2026, Ohioans have a chance to put a protector-in-chief in the governor’s mansion. Let’s make it happen.

More information: Cryptocurrency scams - Education and Prevention

Texas Cracks Down on EPIC’s Illegal Funeral Operations

 

A Legal Battle Unfolds Over Licensing, Sharia Law Concerns, and Community Tensions

On March 25, 2025, the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) issued a cease-and-desist letter to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), ordering an immediate halt to what state officials have labeled "illegal funeral service operations." This action marks a significant escalation in an ongoing legal and political saga surrounding EPIC, a mosque tied to the controversial EPIC City project—a 402-acre planned Muslim-centric community in North Texas. The TFSC’s move, backed by Governor Greg Abbott, stems from allegations that EPIC has been operating a funeral home without the required state license, a violation of Texas law under the Occupations Code, Chapter 651. As of April 10, 2025, this incident is just one piece of a broader legal battle involving multiple state agencies, raising questions about regulatory compliance, religious freedom, and the specter of Sharia law in Texas.

The Cease-and-Desist: Why It Happened

The TFSC’s letter, detailed in a press release from Governor Abbott’s office, accuses EPIC of conducting funeral services without an establishment license, a mandatory requirement under Texas law for any entity providing such services for compensation. According to the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 651, only licensed funeral homes can legally handle the preparation, transportation, and disposition of human remains. EPIC’s license reportedly expired in 2022, and while the mosque claimed a partnership with Rahma Funeral Home—a licensed entity since 2004—Rahma’s owner, Qadeer Qazi, has publicly distanced his business from EPIC, stating there is no contractual relationship. The TFSC has referred the matter to the Collin County District Attorney for potential criminal prosecution, signaling that the state views this as more than a mere administrative oversight.

Governor Abbott framed the action as a defense of Texas law, stating, “Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law. The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license. This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated.” The cease-and-desist letter, issued days before the TFSC’s quarterly meeting on April 3, 2025, underscores the state’s zero-tolerance stance on unlicensed operations in the death care industry.

The Bigger Legal Battle

The funeral service crackdown is only the latest chapter in a multifaceted investigation into EPIC and its ambitious EPIC City project. Announced earlier in March 2025, a dozen Texas state agencies—including the Attorney General’s Office, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality—are probing EPIC for alleged violations ranging from consumer protection breaches to potential financial fraud and environmental permitting failures. The Texas Rangers were also directed by Abbott on March 31, 2025, to investigate “potential criminal activities” tied to EPIC, though specific charges remain undisclosed as of this writing.

At the heart of the controversy is EPIC City, a proposed development in Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, featuring over 1,000 homes, a mosque, a K-12 Islamic school, and other amenities. Critics, including Abbott, have raised alarms about the project’s implications, with the governor asserting on X in February 2025, “Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are ‘no-go zones’ which this project seems to imply.” This rhetoric ties into a 2017 Texas law, House Bill 45, signed by Abbott, which prohibits the use of foreign laws—like Sharia—in state courts if they infringe on constitutional rights, reinforcing that Texas operates solely under American legal frameworks.

CAIR’s Response: Deflection and Denial

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a frequent player in controversies involving Muslim communities, has not stayed silent. In a statement reported by KERA News on April 2, 2025, CAIR described Sharia as “the moral code for followers of Islam,” emphasizing its variability across sects and communities, akin to the diversity of Christian legal traditions. CAIR has dismissed Abbott’s Sharia-related accusations as baseless fearmongering, arguing there’s no evidence EPIC intends to establish a separate legal system. However, CAIR’s defense has been light on specifics regarding the funeral service allegations, focusing instead on broader claims of religious discrimination against Texas Muslims. Their response sidesteps the concrete licensing issue, offering little to counter the TFSC’s documented findings, which weakens their position in this particular dispute.

Digging Deeper: Context and Tensions

EPIC’s troubles began gaining traction in early 2025, spurred by local opposition and political scrutiny. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into EPIC City on March 25, 2025, targeting potential consumer protection violations, while the Texas State Securities Board followed suit, examining possible financial improprieties. The Texas Workplace Commission joined in, probing whether EPIC’s housing plans violate the Texas Fair Housing Act by discriminating against non-Muslims—a claim EPIC denies, asserting it will conduct “individualized assessments” of buyers for safety, not religious exclusion.

The funeral service issue adds a tangible legal hook to what some see as a politically charged campaign. EPIC’s website once touted its partnership with Rahma Funeral Home, a claim now removed, suggesting an attempt to distance itself from the controversy. Yet, the TFSC’s action is grounded in clear regulatory authority, not conjecture. Texas law mandates licensing to protect public health and consumer trust, and EPIC’s apparent lapse—whether intentional or negligent—has handed state officials a solid basis for intervention.

Community reactions are mixed. At a Collin County Commissioners’ Court hearing on March 31, 2025, residents voiced concerns about resource strain from EPIC City, like water and emergency services, while others, including former candidate Darrell Evans, decried the investigations as targeting Muslim “ideas” rather than crimes. Meanwhile, EPIC’s leadership, via Community Capital Partners president Imran Chaudhary, has pledged cooperation with Paxton’s office, insisting the project aims for legal compliance and community integration.

Sharia Law and Texas: The Legal Reality

Abbott’s invocation of Sharia law isn’t just rhetoric—it’s rooted in Texas statute. House Bill 45, enacted in 2017, explicitly bars courts from applying foreign laws that conflict with U.S. constitutional protections. While Sharia isn’t illegal as a personal moral code, any attempt to enforce it as a parallel legal system in Texas would be void. No evidence has surfaced that EPIC’s funeral operations or EPIC City plans involve Sharia governance, but the state’s aggressive stance reflects a broader cultural clash amplified by the project’s scale and religious framing.

What’s Next?

As of April 10, 2025, EPIC has not publicly confirmed compliance with the cease-and-desist order, and the Collin County DA’s office has yet to announce charges. The overlapping investigations signal a protracted legal fight, with the funeral service violation providing a clear-cut entry point for enforcement. Whether this is a standalone regulatory issue or a springboard for dismantling EPIC City remains unclear, but Texas officials show no signs of backing down. For now, the state holds the upper hand, armed with licensing laws and a public narrative of law-and-order supremacy.

For more details on the TFSC’s authority, visit the official Texas Funeral Service Commission website. For Abbott’s statements, refer to his official press release. The saga continues to unfold, with Texas law—and not much else—calling the shots.