Your Morning Briefing for Sunday, August 4
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August 04, 2024
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Dayton Daily News

JOSH SWEIGART
Editor of investigations and solutions journalism
Good morning

Welcome to the weekly roundup, where we bring you the top stories from today’s Dayton Daily News and major stories from the past week you may have missed.

This week that includes our investigation into the recent federal raid of Fuyao Glass America and 27 other properties across the region; the indictment of two Montgomery County officials on felony charges; and a package of stories marking the fifth anniversary of the Oregon District shooting.

Our mission is to help you understand what’s really going on in the Dayton region. This includes comprehensive coverage of local governments and agencies, hard-hitting investigations, and in-depth analyses of important issues.

Do you have a news tip or an issue you think our reporters should look into? Contact me at Josh.Sweigart@coxinc.com, or you can use our anonymous tipline.

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Fuyao raid: Who owns raided properties and what neighbors have seen

Homeland Security police talk to several people outside a home Friday, July 26, 2024 on Hoyle Pl. in Kettering. MARSHALL GORBY \STAFF

Homeland Security and hundreds of other federal and local law enforcement officers raided Fuyao Glass America in Moraine and 27 other properties across the region on July 26 as part of an ongoing investigation.

• Our investigation: Reporter Eric Schwartzberg and I used public records to determine who owns the raided properties, and visited many of the properties and others owned by the same people and companies.

• What we found: Read our full investigation here. We reveal who owns many of the Dayton-area properties that were raided and how they are tied back to one street in Butler County.

• What neighbors say: Our investigation also talked to many neighbors of the raided properties, who say they have noticed odd activity for years including dozens of people packed into single-family homes with worrisome living conditions and being picked up in a white van all hours of the day.

• Status of federal investigation: Homeland Security officials say the investigation is “active and ongoing.” No arrests have been announced.

• Who is the target? Fuyao said it was told by federal authorities that a third-party employment services company is the focus of the investigation, according to a Shanghai Stock Exchange filing by the company.

• What are they looking into? The day of the raid, a Homeland Security spokesman said the investigation is focused on money laundering, potential human smuggling, labor exploitation and financial crimes.

County officials indicted: What to know

Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley, left, and Montgomery County Municipal Court Judge James Piergies were indicted Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in a public corruption case. They are shown after Piergies swore in Foley in December 2020. CONTRIBUTED

Credit: Facebook

Montgomery County Municipal Court Judge James Piergies and county Clerk of Courts Mike Foley were indicted Wednesday on multiple charges related to misuse of their public offices. Montgomery County reporter Sydney Dawes and others are covering the fallout.

• What we know: Go here for the details on the charges, including a copy of the indictment so you can read it for yourself.

• Judge removed: The charges disqualify Piergies from acting as judge, forcing him to immediately step down as the judge presiding over Western Division court based in Trotwood, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.

• Clerk under pressure: Numerous local Republican officials are calling for fellow-Republican Foley to step down. Foley is on the ballot facing reelection in November against a Democrat challenger.

• Background: In 2022, I obtained a document revealing the details behind an investigation by the Ohio Auditor of State into allegations of improper political activity at the clerk’s office. Sydney in October updated readers that the investigation was ongoing.

• What’s next: Foley and Piergies are scheduled for arraignment Aug. 15. Foley’s attorney has said that he is innocent and intends to plead not guilty. Piergies has not released a statement, has no attorney on record and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Remembering the Oregon District shooting

Those killed in the Oregon District shooting were Monica Brickhouse, 39; Beatrice Warren Curtis, 36. Logan Turner, 30; Nicholas Cumer, 25; Thomas McNichols, 25; Lois Oglesby, 27; Derrick Fudge, 57; Saheed Saleh, 38 and Megan Betts, 22.

Today marks the fifth anniversary since a gunman opened fire in the Oregon District, killing nine people and wounding dozens of others. Last week we wrote about the memorial being unveiled today to honor the victims. This week we talk to survivors and victims’ families about their healing process.

• The victims: Reporter Greg Lynch compiled this remembrance of the nine people killed that night.

• One mother’s grief: Columnist and storyteller Tom Archdeacon interviewed the mother of Lois Oglesby, who spoke for one of the first times since her daughter was killed in the shooting, for this heartfelt remembrance of Lois and her love of her two young children.

• What makes #DaytonStrong?: In today’s paper we announced a new community engagement effort around the banner #DaytonStrong. We have two questions for you: What makes #DaytonStrong? And how do we keep #DaytonStrong? Feel free to email me your thoughts at Josh.Sweigart@coxinc.com.

Homeland Security police talk to several people outside a home Friday, July 26, 2024 on Hoyle Pl. in Kettering. MARSHALL GORBY \STAFF
Fuyao raid: Who owns raided properties and what neighbors have seen
Even before hundreds of federal agents recently raided Fuyao Glass America in Moraine and dozens of homes across the reg...
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley, left, and Montgomery County Municipal Court Judge James Piergies were indicted Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in a public corruption case. They are shown after Piergies swore in Foley in December 2020. CONTRIBUTED
Montgomery County judge, clerk of courts indicted; Dems call for them to step down
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley and county Municipal Judge James Piergies were indicted Wednesday on charge...
Mike Foley, Montgomery County Clerk of Courts
Montgomery County GOP chairman, others call for resignation of indicted Clerk of Courts
Montgomery County Republican leaders are calling on Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley, indicted this week on multiple felony charges, to step down from his position.
Montgomery County Municipal Court Aministrative Judge James Piergies
Indicted Montgomery County judge removed from bench
A Montgomery county municipal court judge who was indicted this week on felony charges is also disqualified from his role as judge per judicial rules, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Oregon District tragedy 5 years ago changed lives forever, but brought out good in the community
Five years ago, 32 seconds of terror changed countless lives forever....
Remembering the 9 victims of the Oregon District shooting
On Aug. 4, 2019, a gunman opened fire into a crowd of people in Dayton’s Oregon District....
Lois Oglesby, a few months before her death, at a baby shower for her daughter Reign. CONTRIBUTED
Archdeacon: ‘I want to keep my daughter’s name alive’
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Lily's Dayton in the Oregon District is one of many restaurants included in Ohios sales tax holiday for the first time. JIM NOELKER /STAFF
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