A Defiance man who ran a construction company that allegedly defrauded property owners across multiple counties is facing several felony indictments and civil lawsuits.
Joseph Schlosser, 27, of 204 Cleveland Ave., is charged with felonies in Fulton, Henry, and Paulding counties.
He was also the target of two civil lawsuits in Defiance County, which were settled, as well as separate ones in Fulton and Auglaize counties that named him and his company, Building With Faith Construction, LLC.
The criminal cases are related to construction work that Schlosser promised but did not begin or complete. The most serious indictment, filed in Henry County, alleges nine separate incidents on jobs across northwest Ohio in which Schlosser promised to do work, received payment, and, in most cases, did not do the work.
According to the indictment, three of the incidents occurred in Henry County, while one occurred in Defiance, Fulton, Paulding, Putnam, Auglaize, and Wood counties.
“I think he made estimates and tried to do what he could, then just kept taking money from people,” Henry County Prosecutor Gwen Howe-Gebers explained.
The Henry County indictment, returned in March, charges Schlosser with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony; grand theft, a fourth-degree felony; and two counts of theft, both fifth-degree felonies.
Following a not guilty plea, a pretrial hearing was scheduled in the case in May, with the next scheduled for Tuesday in Henry County Common Pleas Court. In Henry County, he was issued a personal recognizance bond.
Schlosser has also been charged in Paulding County Common Pleas Court with two counts of theft, each of which is a fourth-degree felony. He has pleaded not guilty, and the pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 15.
Schlosser was also indicted in Fulton County Common Pleas Court in April for fifth-degree felony theft.
But, according to court documents, nothing had happened there as of Tuesday, so a warrant for Schlosser’s arrest was issued.
The criminal cases are only part of the court filings against Schlosser. Four civil lawsuits for monetary damages were also filed in three counties (Defiance, Fulton, and Auglaize).
One of the Defiance County cases, filed by Megan and Eric Fischer at 14820 Power Dam Road, was dismissed in June 2024 after the “plaintiffs’ attorney and the defendants came up with a resolution and the monies owed to the plaintiffs have been paid to the plaintiffs through their attorney….”
The second resulted in a default judgment against Schlosser of $232,744.85 plus interest, which was entered earlier this year. Andrea and Michael Eckman, of 28904 Youngman Road, filed the case.
This involved a large home remodeling project, but the complaint stated that “plaintiffs attempted to communicate with defendants to have the project completed and any deficiencies corrected.” Defendants have failed to appear and correct the deficiencies.”
Two other civil cases are still pending in Fulton and Auglaize counties.
David Garmenn, 20681 Ohio 2, Archbold, filed the Fulton County case, and James and Melissa Chamberlain of rural Wapakoneta filed the Auglaize County case, respectively.
