SANDUSKY, Ohio — Remember the Cleveland fishing tournament cheating scandal that made national headlines in 2022? The boat that was used by the competitors who later were sentenced to jail can now be yours.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that the 22-foot bass boat that was seized after the scandal is now being auctioned off online through liquidation company GovDeals.
Those interested in purchasing the 2022 Ranger Pro FS 622 bass boat have from now until July 23 at 6 p.m. to bid. Click here for more information.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office estimated the boat's value at $130,000. As of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, bidding stood at $80,000.
DETAILS OF THE SCANDAL
The case dates back to October 2022, when Jacob Runyan and Chase Cominsky competed in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament near North Marginal Road and Lakeshore Blvd. The pair were initially declared the winners, but controversy soon erupted.
"The director of the tournament noticed Runyan and Cominsky's walleyes weighed more than they looked and sliced open the fish," the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office recounted. "Ten weights were located inside the walleyes, eight weighing 12 ounces and two weighing eight ounces along with several walleye filets."
The incident was caught on video and shared across social media. Runyan and Cominsky were immediately disqualified and later arrested.
On Oct. 12, 2022, a grand jury in Cuyahoga County indicted Runyan and Cominsky for the following charges:
- One count of cheating (felony of the fifth degree)
- One count of attempted grand theft (felony of the fifth degree)
- One count of possessing criminal tools (felony of the fifth degree)
- One count of unlawful ownership of wild animals (misdemeanor of the fourth degree)
Just minutes before their trial was set to begin on March 27, 2023, the two men instead decided to plead guilty to cheating and unlawful ownership of wild animal charges. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charges as part of the deal.
In May 2023, Runyan and Cominsky were both ordered to spend 10 days in jail and be placed on probation for one and a half years with their fishing licenses suspended for a maximum term of three years. The judge also imposed a $2,500 fine, but cut that amount in half provided both make a charitable donation to an organization that focuses on fishing and children.
Prior to sentencing being announced, one of the defense attorneys said both Runyan and Cominsky will have to live with this incident for the rest of their lives.
"These guys are going to have to suffer this forever," the attorney said. "When they go on a date or when they apply for a job, anytime they’re Googled this case is going to come up."
“I have no doubt that these two crooks cheated in multiple tournaments over the last several years," said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley in a statement after the sentencing. "Unfortunately, we can only hold them accountable for what they did on September 30, 2022. Although these two deserve to have their fishing license suspended for life, the law only allows a maximum of three years. These two should be banned from every fishing tournament for life. They are thieves and now they are convicted felons. This sends a message to the fishing community that cheaters will be held accountable in Cuyahoga County.”
Cominsky's boat that was used during the tournament was also forfeited.
Last fall, the Pennsylvania Game Commission-Northwest filed eight charges against Cominsky, accusing him of unlawful killing or taking of big game, unlawful taking or possession of game or wildlife, unlawful acts concerning licenses, and tagging and reporting big game kills for allegedly poaching deer.
Those charges were later dropped.
3News' Ryan Haidet and Tyler Carey contributed to this report
Previous Reporting:
- Man jailed for Cleveland fishing tournament scandal now charged with illegally hunting deer
- Men arrested in Cleveland fishing tournament cheating scandal sentenced to 10 days in jail
- 2 fishermen indicted on criminal charges in Cleveland fishing tournament cheating scandal
- Cleveland fishing tournament ends in controversy as winners caught with weights in walleye