Illinois Driver Indicted for $22K Ohio Turnpike Toll Evasion

Key Details An Illinois truck driver has been indicted in northwest Ohio for evading nearly $22,000 in tolls on the Ohio Turnpike over a two-year period. Moath Musamih, 39, of Orland Park, Illinois, was charged with grand theft by a Williams County grand jury on April 21 following an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Authorities allege Musamih avoided paying $21,991 in tolls while operating on the turnpike between April 2024 and April 2026. Why It Matters This case is part of a broader crackdown on toll evasion by state agencies working to improve safety and revenue collection. The joint enforcement effort between the highway patrol and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission targets drivers who use tactics like obscured license plates or repeated toll-booth evasion. If convicted, Musamih faces up to 18 months in prison, fines up to $10,000, and potential forfeiture of his Freightliner tractor. What's Next Musamih is scheduled for his initial court appearance on May 11 at 2 p.m. in Williams County Court of Common Pleas. Officials say enforcement efforts will continue along the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which spans 13 counties across northern Ohio, to address toll-related violations and improve highway safety.