An Illinois semitruck driver is accused of evading nearly $22,000 in unpaid tolls on the Ohio Turnpike.
A grand jury indicted 39-year-old Moath Musamih, of suburban Chicago, on grand theft April 21 after prosecutors alleged he failed to pay $21,991 from April 2024 to April 2026. Musamih is scheduled to appear in court in Williams County on May 11.
If convicted, Musamih faces up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. His semi could also be seized.
Commercial trucking companies owe the Ohio Turnpike $5.2 million in unpaid tolls from the past two years, according to an April news release. The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission identified 315 companies in 26 states that are on the hook for more than $5,000.
Tolls that remain unpaid for more than 90 days go to collections.
The largest balance belongs to NYC Trucking, which owes the Turnpike more than $155,000. Five other companies have more than $100,000 in unpaid tolls.
“Our goal is to provide the safest and best conditions at the lowest toll rate possible on the Ohio Turnpike,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Turnpike. “These companies are making it more difficult to do so.”
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Driver indicted for $22K in unpaid Ohio Turnpike tolls
Reporting by Haley BeMiller, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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