A man from Greater Cincinnati, identified as 27-year-old Cody Winn, was arrested on December 26 for his involvement in a multi-state scam that allegedly defrauded victims of nearly $1 million. Winn faces 93 charges, including 62 counts of grand theft and 31 counts of telecommunications fraud.
The investigation began after a victim from Orange County, California, alerted authorities to a scam involving a man named “Cody Clay.” The victim had been promised high returns on an investment for opening an Amazon store through a company called Market Modern LLC. After paying $25,000 to launch the store, the victim never saw a return on the investment and found it impossible to contact the individual for a refund.
Through their investigation, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) uncovered that “Cody Clay” was actually Cody Winn, a Batavia resident. Winn allegedly ran a YouTube channel to promote his business plan to potential investors. Authorities revealed that Winn took money from his victims, sent it to an international e-commerce company, but did not return any profits to the investors.
Between March and October 2023, Winn allegedly defrauded 31 victims, stealing a total of $965,500 from individuals in 16 states. The amounts taken ranged from $25,000 to $60,000, with Winn reportedly spending up to $365,000 per month on personal expenses.
