Ohio man indicted in $6.5 million fraud scheme involving dry cleaning business

OHIO — A Cincinnati man has been indicted on charges of defrauding investors out of more than $6.5 million through his online laundry and dry-cleaning pickup and delivery business.

Benjamin Cantey, 41, faces a six-count indictment, including four counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions. The indictment was unsealed Monday.

According to prosecutors, Cantey founded Carbon IQ Inc., doing business as Rumby, in 2019.

Marketed as a venture-backed startup, the company claimed to provide an e-commerce platform for laundry and dry-cleaning services.

Prosecutors allege that from 2020 to 2022, Cantey misled investors by fabricating details about his business experience, overstating the company’s revenue, profits, and growth potential, and providing false financial reports.

In one instance, Cantey allegedly claimed Rumby had a $1.5 million bank balance at the end of May 2022, when the account reportedly had a negative balance of approximately $53,000.

Prosecutors also allege Cantey used $850,000 in investor funds to purchase a $1.7 million, 5,000-square-foot home on Garden Place in Cincinnati.

The charges were announced by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Singer is prosecuting the case.

It is important to note that an indictment contains allegations, and Cantey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.