The Supreme Court of Ohio has issued an indefinite suspension of Robert Rohrbaugh II, a Canfield attorney, due to his involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain federal tax refunds. This decision follows Rohrbaugh’s convictions on four felony charges in federal court and his subsequent sentencing to 52 months in prison.

Rohrbaugh’s law license has been on interim suspension since February 2023. The Court's ruling recognizes that, while Rohrbaugh played a lesser role in the scheme compared to his co-conspirators, he has demonstrated remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions. The Court granted him credit for time served during his interim suspension, noting its belief that he would be able to live lawfully upon his release.

Rohrbaugh was convicted in January of 2023 of trying to steal over $1.3 million from the IRS stemming from his role in helping co-conspirators Brandon Mace and Terris Chanley Baker obtain a tax refund check for a fictitious business for $1,352,799.

 Court documents showed that in early 2015, Mace and Baker attempted to launder money by purchasing high-end luxury vehicles and that the two used $150,000 of that refund check to pay Rohrbaugh for his services.
 

In 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Rohrbaugh and others for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, including the creation of fictitious business entities to fraudulently claim large tax refunds. Following two trials, he was convicted and sentenced concurrently on four felony counts. He is also required to pay nearly $570,000 in restitution to the IRS.

The Mahoning County Bar Association filed a complaint against Rohrbaugh following his convictions. At his disciplinary hearing, he testified about his limited role in the scheme and expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging the impact on his family and the legal profession.

The Court emphasized that Rohrbaugh’s conduct undermines the trustworthiness expected of legal practitioners. It cited previous cases where attorneys faced similar sanctions for federal financial crimes, leading to the conclusion that an indefinite suspension was warranted.

Rohrbaugh will be eligible to petition for reinstatement after serving two years of his suspension, contingent upon the completion of his prison sentence.