Joseph G. Spooner – The “Heartless Conman” Out Of Prison & Scamming Again (Cleveland, Ohio)

Joseph G. Spooner, the “Heartless Conman” who in early 2017 was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison for GoFundMe, rent & bad check scams is back at it again.  Recently, he stole almost $500 from his web designer and passed a bad check in the process.  On August 24th, 2017, Spooner received a judicial and was released from prison having not even served 7 months of his term.  Unthinkable for many…

Finally out of jail, Spooner gave off the appearance of a newfound man with high hopes & big dreams.  Within three months of his release he decided to embark on his long awaited business venture, Ultimate Athlete Championships LLC.  Ultimate Athlete Championships would offer a “Tough Mudder” or “Spartan Race” type event in Cleveland, Ohio, but with a unique twist.  The difference between UAC and those mentioned above was pure genius.  Instead of participants competing for ribbons or trophy’s, winners of UAC would ultimately receive large cash payouts.  These payouts would be divvied up to the winners  who would be scored based on a variety of skill based tests pertaining to Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf & Bowling.

On November 24, 2017, a local area webdesign company, RJHDesigns.net, was hired by Spooner to turn his vision into fruition. The website (www.uachampionships.com) would be finished by Christmas and was built to Spooners 100% satisfaction.  Spooner was finally on his way to having his dream come true and had hit the final stage, finding a place to host his first event.  Two of the locations were prime and negotiations were underway for Ultimate Athlete Championships to launch at either Avon Lake’s High School located at 37545 Detroit Rd., Avon OH 44011 or the Gilmour Academy located at 34001 Cedar Rd., Gates Mills OH 44040.

Spooner Caught Lying On Video

However, instead of staying on the up and up, the “Heartless Conman” made the decision to revert to his old self and robbed his webdesigner via a theft of services scheme.  On February 2nd, 2018 (this date coincides with his sentencing date a year prior, when on February 2nd, 2017, he received 30 months in prison) he went to his bank at First Federal in Lakewood and claimed that two transactions were fraudulent and made without his authorization.  The payments he referenced were for a $250 transaction that took place on December 16th, 2017, and another for $200 on January 18th, 2018.  These were two payments that he had made to his webdesigner.

The overall cost of Spooners website was $700.  On December 7th, 2017, he had initially tried to make a partial payment in the amount of $250 via a check with his bank, First Federal in Lakewood.  The check bounced and RJH contacted Spooner regarding the issue.  Spooner then met RJH days later at the Golf Galaxy in North Olmsted where he would pay him $250 in cash.  This transaction was the first red flag.

Spooner and RJHDesigns would meet at the Avon Lake Starbucks which is located adjacent to the Avon Commons on three separate occasions.  It was here, at this location where one of the transactions that Spooner made to RJHDesigns took place.

COBRA Says:  Here’s a guy who was given a second chance at life and was released from prison almost two years early.  What does he do?  Throws it all down the drain and reverts back to the scammer he truly is.  What a scumbag…

Update 3/2/2018: There is a new article that has been submitted on Ultimate Athlete Championships and J.G. Spooner which can be found here.

RJHDesigns has both email, text & audio documentation supporting his claims.  The documents show that Spooner made payments after the jobs were completed and he was 100% satisfied with the work.  RJH also informed him on one occasion that he would be hosted for free for the first year and receive free 30 days worth of maintenance.  In one text message conversation, the two went back and forth with RJHDesigns demanding that Spooner pay him his money.

Related Article:  The Mass Manipulated Millions – Cleveland Browns Fans

The theft took place immediately after RJHDesigns had advised Spooner that he wasn’t interested in being an equity partner in the business.  This infuriated Spooner who went on to say “You’ve made your decision.  I simply expressed frustration.  Never said I wanted to end this business relationship.  I respect your decision though.  I’ll find someone else moving forward.  No hard feelings as you said”.  RJHDesigns would later say that Spooner “could continue paying RJHDesigns for set rates or can always find someone else to do the work”.  Spooner opted to find another webdesigner who would be able to create additional things necessary for Spooners company, such as fliers, apple/android applications and so on.

The morning after RJHDesigns transferred the website to Tony Vodicka, Spooners new webdesigner, he reversed the funds and claimed that they were made fraudulently.  RJH then contacted Mr. Vodicka and informed him of the situation to which Vodicka responded saying “Thanks for the heads up. I told him to find someone else to manage the site because I don’t want to get in trouble.  Sorry to hear about your loss..”

“the prize money would have Probably disappeared…”

Fun Fact:  On February 16th, 2018, police reports were filed against Joseph G. Spooner in both Rocky River and Avon Lake.  RJHDesigns has fully expressed pursuing this in the courts.

RJHDesigns had this to say regarding the overall transaction that took place with JG Spooner.  “I did far more for this guy than I ever should have.  I advised him that he needed to incorporate his company, hire an attorney, I steered him in setting up his digital office in Beachwood, which would give him a larger than life appearance.  I typically charge additional for any videos I do, instead I created one for him for free.  I assisted him with content on the site, even though that’s the owners responsibility, not the designer (unless otherwise specified).  I created his logo, branded clothes for him in his online Shop and went above and beyond to help him get this thing put together so he could move forward and really take off.  I even offered him the opportunity to make this go away.  I said via text, hey just pay me what you owe me.  I really wanted him to be successful, I truly hoped that this would take off and be something big for him.  Everyone deserves a second chance and I liked the idea and thought it was really going to go somewhere and be something.  Sadly, I hate to say it, but the prize money would have probably disappeared in the end.  He would have stolen it without a doubt.  When someone would have won, the $25,000 would have vanished, it’s his motto and I see that now…”

Timeline Of Events

• April 11th, 2016 (Case# CR-16-605020-A) he was charged with 2 Counts of Felony Money Laundering, 3 Aggravated Thefts and 2 Prohibited Acts & Practices.
• December 6th, 2016 (Case# CR-16-612210-A) he was charged with two counts of Aggravated Theft.
• January 6th, 2017 (Case#CR-17-613086-A) he was charged with Receiving Stolen Property.
• February 2nd, 2017, he was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison.
• August 24th, 2017, he was released from state prison on a judicial release having not even served 7 months of his term.
• November 24th, 2017, he contacts his soon to be webdesigner, RJHDesigns.net.
• February 2nd, 2018, he steals $450 in two separate transactions from his webdesigner.
• February 16th, 2018, two police reports, one in Rocky River & another in Avon Lake were filed against Spooner for “theft of services”.

Sentencing Court Transcript

DEFENDANT IN COURT. COUNSEL MARK B MAREIN PRESENT. COURT REPORTER KELLIE ROPER PRESENT. ON A FORMER DAY OF COURT THE DEFENDANT PLEAD GUILTY TO ADDITIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING PROHIBITIONS 1315.55 A(3) F3 AS CHARGED IN COUNT(S) 1 OF THE INDICTMENT. ON A FORMER DAY OF COURT THE DEFENDANT PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT; AGGRAVATED THEFT 2913.02 A(3) M1 AS CHARGED IN COUNT(S) 6 OF THE INDICTMENT. COUNT(S) 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 WAS/WERE NOLLED. DEFENDANT ADDRESSES THE COURT, PROSECUTOR EDWARD D. BRYDLE ADDRESSES THE COURT, VICTIM/REP ADDRESSES THE COURT. THE COURT CONSIDERED ALL REQUIRED FACTORS OF THE LAW. THE COURT FINDS THAT PRISON IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE OF R. C. 2929.11. THE COURT IMPOSES A PRISON SENTENCE AT THE LORAIN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OF 30 MONTH(S). DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO A TERM OF 30 MONTHS ON COUNT ONE AND A TERM OF 180 DAYS ON COUNT SIX TO RUN CONCURRENTLY TO EACH OTHER FOR A TOTAL CONFINEMENT OF 30 MONTHS IN THIS CASE. SENTENCE IN THIS CASE TO RUN CONCURRENTLY TO SENTENCE IMPOSED IN CASE NUMBER 612210. POST RELEASE CONTROL IS PART OF THIS PRISON SENTENCE FOR UP TO 3 YEARS FOR THE ABOVE FELONY(S) UNDER R.C.2967.28. DEFENDANT ADVISED THAT IF/WHEN POST RELEASE CONTROL SUPERVISION IS IMPOSED FOLLOWING HIS/HER RELEASE FROM PRISON AND IF HE/SHE VIOLATES THAT SUPERVISION OR CONDITION OF POST RELEASE CONTROL UNDER RC 2967.131(B), PAROLE BOARD MAY IMPOSE A PRISON TERM AS PART OF THE SENTENCE OF UP TO ONE-HALF OF THE STATED PRISON TERM ORIGINALLY IMPOSED UPON THE OFFENDER. RESTITUTION ORDERED IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,031.13 TO JAMES ZAPPE; PAYABLE THROUGH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. DEFENDANT TO MAKE A DONATION OF $486.46 TO THE CITY MISSION OF CLEVELAND THE COURT HEREBY ENTERS JUDGMENT AGAINST THE DEFENDANT IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE COSTS OF THIS PROSECUTION. DEFENDANT REMANDED. SHERIFF ORDERED TO TRANSPORT DEFENDANT JOSEPH G SPOONER, DOB: 06/22/1980, GENDER: MALE, RACE: WHITE. 02/02/2017 CP1PS 02/02/2017 12:33:13

Judicial Hearing Court Transcript

ON 08/24/2017 A HEARING WAS HELD PURSUANT TO R. C. 2929.20 UPON DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL RELEASE. DEFENSE COUNSEL MARK MAREIN, PROSECUTOR ED BRYDLE, THE COURT REPORTER AND DEFENDANT WERE PRESENT. STATE OPPOSES. DEFENDANT PLACED IN REEC. AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION OF THE RECORD, THE WARDEN’S REPORT UNDER R. C. 2929.20 (G) AND ANY ORAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS PREPARED, AND THE STATEMENTS OF THE VICTIM OR THE VICTIM’S REPRESENTATIVE (IF ANY), THE COURT FINDS THAT DEFENDANT IS ELIGIBLE FOR JUDICIAL RELEASE AND HAS SERVED ANY MANDATORY PRISON TIME. THE COURT FURTHER GRANTS THE MOTION, REDUCES THE DEFENDANT’S STATED PRISON TERM THROUGH A JUDICIAL RELEASE, AND PLACES THE DEFENDANT ON ONE YEAR ONE YEAR OF COMMUNITY CONTROL SANCTIONS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. CONDITIONS TO INCLUDE: DEFENDANT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND ISP SUPERVISION; DEFENDANT TO REPORT TO P.O. WEEKLY; NO TRANSFER WITHOUT COURT APPROVAL; CCWS FOR 20 HOURS (IF NOT WORKING); REGULAR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING EACH REPORT – ARREST ON FIRST POSITIVE / FAILURE TO REPORT / NEW CASE; OBTAIN/MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, 30 HOURS, VERIFIED. DEFENDANT MAY NOT CHANGE RESIDENCE ADDRESS WITHOUT PRIOR COURT APPROVAL. DEFENDANT TO COMPLETE 8 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH A PROVIDER OF CHOICE BY 10-1-17. DEFENDANT TO SEEK ENROLLMENT IN HEALTHCARE PLAN. DEFENDANT TO REPORT TO P.O. 8-28-17 AT 9:30 A.M. NEXT GROUP SESSION IS 9-21-17 AT 1PM. DEFENDANT MAY TRAVEL BETWEEN CUYAHOGA, LORAIN, ERIE AND MEDINA COUNTY DUE TO FAMILY COMMITMENTS. IN CR 605020: PAY $6,03113 TO JAMES ZAPPE, PAYABLE THROUGH PROBATION DEPARTMENT. RESTITUTION REMAINS A FINAL JUDGMENT AGAINST THE DEFENDANT. THE COURT EXPRESSLY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RE-IMPOSE THE PRISON SENTENCE HEREIN REDUCED UPON VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE CONDITION(S) OF THE COMMUNITY CONTROLLED SANCTIONS HEREIN SET FORTH. (BALANCE OF SENTENCE – 2 YEARS) TRANSPORT FEES AND COSTS FOR TODAY’S HEARING ARE WAIVED. REPAYMENT OF ASSIGNED COUNSEL FEES WAIVED. DEFENDANT TO PAY $500.00 SUPERVISION FEE. ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ORDERED PAID IN FULL BY 7-24-19. DEFENDANT ORDERED RELEASED. 08/24/2017 CPEDB 08/24/2017 13:54:18

The Bottom Line:  Just imagine if Ultimate Athlete Championships LLC. does get off the ground and turns into a real event that hosts thousands of participants, all of which have to pay an entry fee.  Just imagine where all of that money would go.  10’s of thousands, perhaps in excess of $100,000 could be accumulated during the event in order to make cash payouts – yet, in the end, whose to know if Joseph G. Spooner would actually pay anyone?  After all this is the same guy who setup a GoFundMe for a friend who was ill and then stole all of that money from said GoFundMe.  Just imagine…

SCUMBAGGED Tip:  Don’t do business with JG Spooner.  It’s pretty obvious that his prison term shouldn’t have been cut short, but instead it should have been the full term.  This individual apparently hasn’t learned anything and he’s already out and about scamming and scheming his way into peoples pockets (or in this case, out of hard earned work).  Anyone who needs a website design done should really contact www.rjhdesigns.net.  The guy does phenomenal work, trust us, we know because he designed Scumbagged.com as well.

Resources:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/heartless_conman_jg_spooner_se.html

https://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/CaseInfoByName.aspx