CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ohio’s labor market is taking another major hit. First Brands Group, a global automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer, has submitted WARN notices to the state outlining plans to close four Ohio plants and lay off additional workers in Cuyahoga County — impacting more than 1,200 employees across the state.
According to state filings:
- 146 employees were laid off Feb. 23 at a Cuyahoga County facility.
- A second Cuyahoga County operation is slated to close April 30, affecting 110 workers.
- The Greenville facility in Darke County will close on April 30, impacting 302 employees.
- The Tiffin plant in Seneca County will close on April 30, affecting 407 workers.
- The Bowling Green facility in Wood County will close on April 30, impacting 302 employees.
In total, 1,267 Ohio workers are expected to lose their jobs.
The closures follow First Brands Group’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September 2025. At the time of its bankruptcy, federal prosecutors say the company reported approximately $5 billion in annual sales but declared only $12 million in cash against more than $9 billion in liabilities.
In January, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that First Brands founder and former CEO Patrick James, 61, of Chagrin Falls, and his brother, former senior executive Edward James, 60, of Canton, were indicted on multiple federal charges. Those charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and other financial crimes.
Federal prosecutors allege the brothers orchestrated a yearslong scheme to defraud lenders by submitting fake and inflated invoices, double- and triple-pledging collateral, falsifying financial statements, and concealing billions in liabilities. Prosecutors described the company’s operations as functioning like a “Ponzi” scheme, using new loan proceeds to repay older lenders while allegedly enriching executives.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement:
“The James brothers obtained billions for First Brands—and millions for themselves—by presenting their lenders with the impression of a successful, growing international business. The indictment and the guilty plea unsealed today describe a very different reality: a business run through fraud, fake documents, and false financials.”
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer added:
“The fallout from selfish and deceptive actions—such as those alleged in this case—can cascade down to honest and hardworking company employees based right here in Ohio. Their jobs and livelihoods are at stake due to the corrupt actions of a few individuals.”
Patrick James faces a potential life sentence on the continuing financial crimes enterprise charge, along with multiple counts carrying up to 30 years each if convicted. Edward James faces multiple counts with potential sentences of up to 30 years per charge. Both men have been arrested and are awaiting further court proceedings. A third individual, Peter Andrew Brumbergs, has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with federal authorities.
For workers in Seneca, Darke, Wood, and Cuyahoga counties, the legal battle unfolding in federal court now translates into plant shutdowns and lost livelihoods.
As several Ohio communities brace for another wave of industrial job losses, the fallout from First Brands’ collapse continues to ripple across the state’s economy.