Evans Landscaping: Relationship between Company Leaders Focus of Closing Arguments

A number of former Evans Landscaping employees testified against the CEO and vice president during the trial.

Cincinnati Enquirer
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Closing arguments in the federal fraud trial against Newtown, Ohio-based Evans Landscaping and its leaders began after four weeks of testimony.

The jury deliberations were set to follow Judge Michael Barrett said. Evans Landscaping CEO Doug Evans and vice president Jim Bailey are accused of creating a front company, called Ergon, to win a minority and small business contracts.

The small company was headed up by Korey Jordan, an African-American Evans Landscaping employee, but the company was allegedly funded and controlled by Evans and others in management. Defense attorneys say Jordan took advantage of Evans and the relationship the two had.

Evans helped set up Ergon as a way to lend a hand to an employee and friend who wanted to start his own business, but when the money ran out, he left Evans with the mess. 

According to court documents, Jordan and a number of other former Evans Landscaping employees, who pleaded guilty to charges in connection to the alleged fraud, testified against Evans and Bailey during the trial.

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