Celina Man Facing Dozens of Fraud Charges Indicted Again, Held on Contempt Despite Bond Reduction

A Celina man facing more than 100 felony charges tied to the alleged theft of over $1.5 million has been indicted on 10 additional charges and remains in custody on contempt charges, despite a recent bond reduction in his criminal cases.

Christopher T. Wendel was indicted Thursday by a Mercer County grand jury on charges including two counts of tampering with evidence, three counts of tampering with records, four counts of falsification, and one count of improper use of a certificate of title. Prosecutors allege Wendel falsified court-required financial disclosure forms to qualify for a public defender and concealed assets, including a Corvette, through a title-only transaction.

If convicted on the new indictment, Wendel faces up to 18 years in prison and a maximum fine of $59,000. The charges are in addition to two earlier criminal cases alleging Wendel defrauded 10 Ohio residents, some elderly, between 2019 and 2021 through Buckeye Income Fund LLC.

Wendel was first indicted in July 2024 on dozens of counts involving unlawful securities practices, theft, and telecommunications fraud. A second indictment followed in November 2024, adding additional fraud-related charges. If convicted across all cases, he could face up to life in prison and more than $1.6 million in restitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Friday, Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Matthew K. Fox granted a long-pending motion to reduce Wendel’s bond, lowering it to $50,000 in each of his 2024 cases, subject to 10%, and ordering SCRAM alcohol monitoring. Wendel posted bond and was released on the criminal cases, but remains held on separate contempt charges. Arraignment and pretrial hearings are scheduled for January.