COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A New Jersey man received an 18-month prison sentence on Friday in the Southern District Court of Ohio for his role in a $50 million fraud scheme.
Ahmet Neidik, 65, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud after fleeing to Turkey and later returning to the U.S. He entered his guilty plea in January 2024, according to a court release.
Two other individuals, John K. Eckerd, Jr. of Dallas and Jason Adkins of Jackson, Ohio, also played key roles in the scheme. Eckerd pleaded guilty in December, while Adkins was convicted and sentenced back in 2022.
Between 2012 and late 2018, Eckerd and Adkins posed as experienced entrepreneurs specializing in the sale of off-the-road tires—large tires used for earth-moving and mining equipment. The court’s release stated that they scammed investors out of millions by projecting an image of wealth and success. They met victims in person and over the phone, used private jets to display the tires, and even created fraudulent paperwork to appear legitimate.
Neidik co-owned and operated businesses that received money from the scheme. The court revealed that he wired funds from his businesses into the co-conspirators’ bank accounts.
Eckerd and Adkins presented Neidik as a neutral third party who would either facilitate the shipment of tires or hold funds until deals were finalized. However, Neidik did more than just assist—he signed contractual agreements with investor victims, solidifying his role in the fraud.
Along with his prison sentence, Neidik must pay $370,000 in restitution and an additional $250,000 fine. Eckerd faces a prison sentence ranging from three to nine years, while Adkins received a nine-year sentence in August 2022.
