A man from Oakland City, Indiana, will be spending time in federal prison for a fraud scheme.
Joshua Eaden was the former manager of Best-One Tire & Service of Princeton. His business provided parts, supplies and services to Gibson County Coal. Between 2013 and 2016, Eaden was involved in a scheme to defraud Gibson County Coal by submitting over 300 false foam tire fill invoices. Gibson County Coal would then make those payments to Best-One Tire & Services. In total, Eaden received $189,000 from the scam.
In 2019, Eaden was found guilty of 17 counts of wire and mail fraud. However, he tried to convince the judge that he suffered an eye injury and was blind. His sentencing hearing was delayed, as the FBI investigated his claim that he was blind. Investigators found video recordings and photographs that showed Eaden playing golf and driving a golf cart numerous times in 2020, including days right before he appeared in court.
Eaden was sentenced Wednesday to nearly four years in prison, and must pay $244,683 in restitution.