Shipping Containers for Sale in Cleveland, OH

First Brands' bankruptcy, linked to alleged fraud by its executives, has prompted the closure of several Ohio facilities, impacting over 1,200 jobs statewide.

CLEVELAND — Roughly one month after three of the company's top executives were indicted for fraud and money laundering, Cleveland-based First Brands is planning the closure of several of its Ohio facilities, including its downtown corporate office.

According to WARN notices filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, more than 1,200 employees statewide will be impacted.

On Feb. 23, First Brands notified the state that it would be conducting a "mass layoff" at its Cleveland corporate office on Public Square on that date. A total of 146 employees were immediately terminated, including 17 account managers and nine zone managers.

Four days later, the company issued WARN letters announcing the closure of the Cleveland corporate office, plus three other facilities statewide, effective on April 30 of this year.

"As you may be aware, the Company is currently experiencing a period of financial distress and is in a chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Nevertheless, the Company has gone to great lengths to maintain its operations. This has included pursuing a sale process as well as attempting to seek additional funding from numerous outside parties. However, under all of these circumstances, the Company has now made the difficult decision to close this Facility," First Brands wrote in its WARN notice.

The closing of the Cleveland corporate office will impact 110 additional employees.

Meanwhile, our TEGNA sister station WTOL in Toledo reports that 302 workers at First Brands' TMD Bowling Green facility will lose their jobs as a result of the closing there, with another 407 workers impacted by the closing of the TMD Tiffin facility.

Additionally, the closing of the FRAM Greenville facility in Darke County will result in 302 jobs being lost.

Federal prosecutors say three Northeast Ohio men — including two brothers from Chagrin Falls and Canton — are facing sweeping fraud and money laundering charges tied to the collapse of a global automotive parts company.

THE INDICTMENT

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Patrick James, 61, of Chagrin Falls, and his brother Edward James, 60, of Canton, were arrested in January after a federal indictment was unsealed, charging them with multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy and related offenses.

Prosecutors allege the James brothers orchestrated a years-long fraud at First Brands Group, LLC, a global automotive aftermarket parts supplier founded by Patrick James, ultimately driving the company into bankruptcy in September 2025.

A third Northeast Ohio resident, Peter Andrew Brumbergs, 45, of Chagrin Falls, has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government, federal officials said.

“As alleged in the indictment, Patrick James, together with his brother, Edward James, perpetrated a staggering fraud at First Brands Group,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The James brothers obtained billions for First Brands—and millions for themselves—by presenting their lenders with the impression of a successful, growing international business. The indictment and the guilty plea unsealed today describe a very different reality: a business run through fraud, fake documents, and false financials. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue working tirelessly to uncover every aspect of this fraud and vindicate the rights of every victim.”

According to federal prosecutors, the alleged scheme spanned several years and ultimately led to the collapse of First Brands Group, LLC.

In an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors allege that from at least 2018 through 2025, Patrick and Edward James, built and then bankrupted the company through a series of coordinated fraud schemes. First Brands developed, marketed, and sold replacement automotive parts — including brakes, filters, wipers, and lights — under multiple brand names like FRAM and Autolite, according to court filings.

Patrick James served as the company’s founder and chief executive officer, while Edward James held the role of senior vice president, prosecutors said.

Federal authorities allege the brothers engaged in multiple schemes designed to mislead lenders and financing partners about the company’s true financial condition. According to the indictment, those schemes included submitting fake or inflated invoices tied to accounts receivable and payable, double- and triple-pledging collateral, falsifying corporate financial statements, and concealing significant liabilities from lenders.

Prosecutors say those alleged actions allowed First Brands to secure billions of dollars in financing, while also generating millions of dollars in proceeds for Patrick and Edward James.

“Individuals who lie about the financial health of their company for the purposes of greed create shockwaves across the business sector that endanger the economic wellbeing of others,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer from the Northern District of Ohio. “The fallout from selfish and deceptive actions—such as those alleged in this case—can cascade down to honest and hardworking company employees based right here in Ohio. Their jobs and livelihoods are at stake due to the corrupt actions of a few individuals. Together with our federal partners, we will seek justice on behalf of all victims affected by this travesty.”

The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo, Marguerite B. Colson, Peter J. Davis, and Sarah Mortazavi, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer are in charge of the prosecution.

FULL LIST OF CHARGES

Patrick James

Edward James

Peter Andrew Brumbergs

CLEVELAND, Ohio — OHSAA boys basketball scores from Friday in Ohio, as provided by The Associated Press.

Alliance 60, Minerva 48

Alliance Marlington 71, Salem 51

Andrews Osborne Academy 61, Medina Christian Academy 52

Ansonia 54, New Paris National Trail 38

Arcadia 51, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 48

Archbold 61, Swanton 55

Arlington 40, Ada 27

Ashland Crestview 84, Ashland Mapleton 45

Ashtabula Edgewood 67, Conneaut 47

Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 42, Sandusky St. Mary 27

Batavia 78, New Richmond 22

Bellevue 60, Tiffin Columbian 53

Berlin Center Western Reserve 54, New Middletown Spring. 52

Berlin Hiland 76, Magnolia Sandy Valley 33

Botkins 44, Anna 26

Bowerston Conotton Valley 67, Tuscarawas Cent. Cath. 38

Brooklyn 50, Youngs. Mooney 36

Bryan 51, Metamora Evergreen 38

Burton Berkshire 69, Rootstown 44

Caldwell 63, Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 54

Canal Fulton Northwest 78, Navarre Fairless 36

Canfield 67, Warren Howland 44

Castalia Margaretta 69, Milan Edison 35

Celina 45, Elida 41

Centerville 67, Miamisburg 36

Chagrin Falls 46, Kirtland 45

Chillicothe Unioto 50, Chillicothe Zane Trace 48

Cin. La Salle 41, Cin. Moeller 39

Cin. McNicholas 48, Bishop Fenwick 36

Cin. Oak Hills 61, Middletown 39

Cin. Princeton 94, Cin. Colerain 48

Clayton Northmont 63, Kettering Fairmont 52

Clyde 82, Norwalk 51

Coldwater 61, Rockford Parkway 48

Collins Western Reserve 62, Greenwich S. Cent. 49

Cols. Hamilton Twp. 69, Amanda-Clearcreek 24

Cols. Upper Arlington 41, Powell Olentangy Liberty 38

Columbiana 79, Lisbon David Anderson 75

Copley 76, Barberton 60

Cornerstone Christian 70, Elyria Open Door 30

Corning Miller 43, Lancaster Fisher Cath. 37

Creston Norwayne 53, West Salem Northwestern 18

Day. Oakwood 53, Carlisle 37

Defiance 75, Kenton 43

Delphos St John’s 71, Versailles 34

Dover 46, Mansfield Madison 34

Dresden Tri-Valley 64, Philo 48

Edon 51, Gorham Fayette 41

Fairfield 49, Cin. Sycamore 45

Fairview 74, Cle. Rhodes 71

Felicity-Franklin 67, Blanchester 63, OT

Findlay Liberty-Benton 74, McComb 45

Fredericktown 64, Galion Northmor 57

Ft. Loramie 65, Sidney Fairlawn 43

Ft. Recovery 56, New Knoxville 55, OT

Gates Mills Hawken 71, Orange 45

Genoa 79, Fostoria 38

Gibsonburg 56, Old Fort 52, OT

Greenville 61, Fairborn 51

Hamilton Ross 56, Franklin 49

Hamler Patrick Henry 63, Liberty Center 56

Harrod Allen E. 59, Van Wert Lincolnview 55

Haviland Wayne Trace 64, Antwerp 51

Hilliard Darby 55, Dublin Jerome 37

Holgate 61, W. Unity Hilltop 57

Hubbard 68, Niles McKinley 64, OT

Independence 48, Cuyahoga Hts. 32

Jackson Center 55, Houston 32

Jeromesville Hillsdale 81, Doylestown Chippewa 74

John Marshall, W.Va. 70, Bellaire 52

Kalida 60, Ottoville 44

Kinsman Badger 59, Cortland Maplewood 55

LaGrange Keystone 72, Columbia Station Columbia 51

Legacy Christian 67, Bellefontaine Calvary Christian 27

Leipsic 67, Vanlue 41

Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 60, Dublin Coffman 48

Lewistown Indian Lake 60, Spring. NW 40

Lewistown Indian Lake 66, St. Paris Graham 34

Lexington 64, Millersburg W. Holmes 47

Lima 76, Tol. Bowsher 29

Lima Bath 45, Ottawa-Glandorf 33

Lima Cent. Cath. 65, Delphos Jefferson 39

Lima Perry 51, N. Baltimore 42

Lima Shawnee 63, Wapakoneta 40

Lima Temple Christian 70, Marion Elgin 25

Lore City Buckeye Trail 65, Newcomerstown 59

Mansfield 68, Wooster 59

Mansfield Christian 60, Lucas 47

Mantua Crestwood 69, Wickliffe 55

Maria Stein Marion Local 60, St. Henry (OH) 33

Mason 46, Hamilton 44

Massillon Jackson 66, Can. Glenoak 59

Massillon Perry 47, Green 28

Mayfield 97, Eastlake North 64

McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 58, Mt. Victory Ridgemont 46

Millbury Lake 60, Oak Harbor 42

Miller City 64, Ft. Jennings 37

Millersport 63, Fairfield Christian 49

Mineral Ridge 75, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 37

Minster 40, New Bremen 26

Monroe 68, Oxford Talawanda 50

Monroeville 60, Plymouth 57

Montpelier 69, Pioneer N. Central 54

Morral Ridgedale 49, Dola Hardin Northern 43

Mt Gilead 48, Howard E. Knox 40

N. Can. Hoover 63, Uniontown Lake 46

N. Ridgeville Lake Ridge 52, Horizon-Lorain 25

New Madison Tri-Village 88, Bradford 25

New Philadelphia 60, Ashland 44

New Riegel 66, Lakeside Danbury 55

Newark 77, Canal Winchester 41

Norwalk St Paul 62, New London 52

Oberlin 61, Lorain Clearview 45

Orwell Grand Valley 72, Andover Pymatuning Valley 64

Painesville Riverside 69, Willoughby S. 41

Pataskala Watkins Memorial 48, Mt. Vernon 39

Paulding 63, Hicksville 16

Perrysburg 62, Bowling Green 31

Pettisville 48, Stryker 35

Poland Seminary 67, Cortland Lakeview 51

Port Clinton 53, Huron 48

Ravenna SE 67, Newton Falls 61

Reedsville Eastern 62, Stewart Federal Hocking 45

Rocky River Lutheran W. 67, Louisville 31

S. Webster 55, Waverly 46

Sandusky 46, Sandusky Perkins 42

Sheffield Brookside 78, Wellington 51

Sherwood Fairview 52, Edgerton 35

Sidney Lehman 75, DeGraff Riverside 51

Smithville 68, Rittman 23

South Point 48, Gallipolis Gallia 37

Spencerville 65, Bluffton 31

St Clairsville 75, Cadiz Harrison Cent. 44

St. Xavier (OH) 49, Cin. Elder 32

Steubenville 75, Beaver Local 58

Stow-Munroe Falls 31, Wadsworth 30

Sylvania Northview 58, Fremont Ross 45

Tallmadge 64, Cuyahoga Falls 54

Tiffin Calvert 67, Fremont St. Joseph 26

Tiffin Columbian 43, Bellevue 39

Tol. Ottawa Hills 44, Tol. Christian 38

Tol. Rogers 75, Tol. Scott 41

Tol. Whitmer 59, Napoleon 23

Toledo St John’s Jesuit 65, Birmingham Brother Rice, Mich. 63

Tontogany Otsego 66, Maumee 61

Uhrichsville Claymont 51, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 39

Urbana 69, Spring. Kenton Ridge 60

Van Buren 44, Pandora-Gilboa 36

Van Wert 88, St Marys 50

Vandalia Butler 57, Sidney 49

W. Alexandria Twin Valley S. 59, New Lebanon Dixie 45

W. Chester Lakota W. 49, Liberty Twp. Lakota E. 30

Warsaw River View 48, McConnelsville Morgan 44

Washington C.H. 42, Hillsboro 29

Waterford 54, Glouster Trimble 47

Wauseon 50, Delta 40

Waynesfield-Goshen 84, Cory-Rawson 50

Wellsville 68, Salineville Southern 50

Westerville N. 92, Westerville S. 66

Westlake 49, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 34

Wheelersburg 69, Lucasville Valley 59

Wheeling Park, W.Va. 61, E. Liverpool 40

Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 52, Oregon Clay 50

Willard 59, Vermilion 45

Williamsburg 72, Bethel-Tate 40

Worthington Kilbourne 61, Hayes 40

Youngs. Boardman 71, Canfield S. Range 65

Youngs. Ursuline 74, Fitch 68

Youngs. Valley Christian 64, E. Palestine 33

Zanesville Maysville 87, Byesville Meadowbrook 38

Zanesville W. Muskingum 70, New Lexington 41