Opinion ID: 2972844
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: NHF and Instant Win

Text: After using the names of two additional charities—the Firestone Park Athletic Association and Prisma—for short periods of time, the group decided to create its own charity. In December of 1999, Brett Simons, Chad Bush, and Vicki Losh opened a checking account in the name of the -3- Natural Health Foundation (NHF). (Brett Simons is the son of Chester Simons.) Chad Bush became the president of NHF when it was incorporated in January of 2000, with Brett Simons and Vicki Losh being listed as the other officers. The charitable purpose identified for this organization was to provide vitamins for the indigent ill. At the same time, Chester Simons established a business to purchase gambling machines and place them in the instant bingo stores. Instant Win, Ltd., which was incorporated by Chester Simons and Vicki Losh in November of 1999, began purchasing gambling machines and hiring employees. The proceeds from the operation of these machines were divided equally between NHF and Instant Win. By August of 2000, NHF and Instant Win had common offices, and Lisa Wagner, who was hired as an NHF employee in August of 2000, worked for both. Instant Win’s offices were moved to a different location on the same street after a police raid of a Cuyahoga Falls comedy club revealed that the club was using Instant Win gaming machines. Chester Simons subsequently established Apollo LLC, an additional for-profit corporation, to purchase and lease gaming machines. Cash from the various gambling locations was deposited in the Apollo LLC bank account. Lisa Wagner, who also worked for Apollo LLC, was told by Chester Simons, Brett Simons, and Vicki Losh to deposit the cash in amounts of $9,000 or less because “more forms would have to be filled out” for larger deposits.