CINCINNATI (Cincinnati Business Courier) – A local startup founder accused of defrauding investors to the tune of $6.5 million has pleaded guilty – bringing at least some closure to a yearslong case that first came to light in 2022.
Ben Cantey, 41, co-founder and CEO of Rumby, a now-defunct Cincinnati-based laundry tech startup, pleaded guilty Oct. 22 in federal court to wire fraud. He initially faced a six-count indictment with his arrest late in December 2024.
Prosecutors said Cantey lied about his business experience and prior business success to recruit and defraud investors – including Over-the-Rhine’s Refinery Ventures…