An Illinois truck driver has been indicted in northwest Ohio for allegedly evading nearly $22,000 in tolls on the Ohio Turnpike over a two-year span.

A Williams County grand jury on April 21 charged Moath Musamih, 39, of Orland Park, Illinois, with grand theft following an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Authorities say Musamih avoided paying $21,991 in tolls while operating on the turnpike between April 2024 and April 2026.

Ohio’s Toll Crackdown

The case stems from a joint enforcement effort between the highway patrol and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission aimed at cracking down on toll evasion and related violations.

Investigators allege Musamih repeatedly used the toll road system without paying, part of a broader pattern that can include tactics such as fictitious or obscured license plates.

If convicted, Musamih faces up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Prosecutors also say the vehicle tied to the alleged offense -- a Freightliner tractor -- could be subject to forfeiture.

Musamih is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on May 11 at 2 p.m. in the Williams County Court of Common Pleas.

Officials say enforcement efforts will continue along the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which runs through 13 counties across northern Ohio, as agencies work to improve safety and address toll-related violations.