Cleveland Resident Charged With Defrauding Cancer Trust
Jody Millard faces dozens of federal fraud charges for allegedly stealing $2 million from a research trust.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Federal prosecutors have charged 57-year-old Jody Millard with 10 counts of mail fraud and 25 counts of wire fraud. He is accused of stealing approximately $1.9 million in securities and dividends from a cancer research trust.
Why it matters
The charges follow allegations that Millard diverted funds intended to support cancer research in Greece. The legal action highlights the ongoing effort to recover assets after the trust was allegedly drained between 2021 and 2022.
Jody Millard faces 35 total fraud counts and was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond. He entered a plea of not guilty during his September 2026 arraignment.
The players
Jody Millard
The 57-year-old defendant who faces federal charges for allegedly defrauding a cancer research trust.
Spilios Mousalimas Trust
A charitable trust established in 1999 that was intended to fund cancer research in Greece.
Equiniti
A financial services company that was reportedly targeted by fraudulent beneficiary documentation.
The details
Prosecutors allege that Millard submitted fake documents to Equiniti and California state officials to falsely claim beneficiary status. The scheme reportedly involved stealing $629,000 in unclaimed funds alongside securities and dividends from the trust.
Timeline
1999: The Spilios Mousalimas Trust was established to fund cancer research.
2006: Founder Spilios Mousalimas passed away.
August 2021-September 2022: Millard allegedly stole securities and dividends.
2025: Trustees filed a federal civil lawsuit against Millard and Equiniti.
September 2026: Millard was arraigned on federal mail and wire fraud charges.
Legal Context
This case follows a 2025 civil lawsuit filed against the defendant and Equiniti in federal court. It reflects broader efforts to utilize federal mail and wire fraud statutes to recover misappropriated charitable assets.
The charges serve as a reminder for local organizations to verify the authenticity of all documents related to trust disbursements and beneficiary claims. Residents may follow the federal court proceedings to understand the final recovery of the stolen funds.
The takeaway
This case underscores the importance of strict document verification protocols for financial institutions and charitable trusts. Vigilance in monitoring beneficiary documentation remains a primary defense against complex white-collar fraud.
Further reading
For more background on regional legal actions, explore Financial Crime.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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