CINCINNATI -- Federal agents and Stark County Sheriff's deputies raided the home and business of a Plain Township man they believe to be the ringleader of a multi-million dollar theft ring.

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Alleged Ringleader Arrested, Others Indicted

The alleged ringleader, Omran Saleh (pictured, below) was among 23 people arrested Thursday in a series of raids at convenience stores. Most of the people arrested are of Palestinian descent, WLWT reported.

Several of the suspects involved in a money-laundering operation that allegedly shipped millions of dollars to the Middle East appeared in court Friday.

Saleh pleaded not guilty Friday. He is being held on $1 million bond. About a dozen of the other suspects appeared in court Friday as well. Their bonds were set from $30,000 to $100,000.

Rawd Saleh, daughter of Omran Saleh, was among the suspects' family members who angrily denied involvement in the theft ring.

"This guy that works for my father, works at the store, sends maybe 500 to his mother overseas, who are starving," Saleh said. "They have to support their families."

"I have sisters who live overseas," said Maha Dakar, relative of another suspect. "We support them. This is how we live."

All of the suspects were ordered to turn in their passports and remain in Hamilton County.

Saleh Labeled Operation's Mastermind

According to officials, Saleh, who has a home in Canton, in northeast Ohio, and an apartment in North Fairmount, led a group of people who paid drug addicts to steal specific items. The items were then sold in 10 convenience stores owned or operated by Saleh, investigators said.

Nine of the stores are in Cincinnati -- including Westwood, Over-the-Rhine and North Fairmount -- and the 10th store is in the Canton area, officials said.

"It's an extensive operation," Cincinnati police Chief Tom Streicher said at a news conference Thursday.

Added Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen: "This is the thickest and biggest indictment I think I've ever seen."

After the items were sold, the money allegedly was laundered and shipped overseas. Investigators have accounted for $37 million during the past two years, much of which they believe was shipped to the Middle East.

Among the items allegedly stolen by the group were dozens of cases of cigarettes, Sudafed, Tylenol, Crest White Strips, malt liquor, glucose blood test kits and glucose blood test strips.

The charges filed against the suspects included engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with government records, money laundering and receiving stolen property.

Details about who received the money were not released, but police believe the money may have been used to fund terrorists.

Elizabeth Frierson, a local Middle East expert, told WLWT Thursday that packaging the money to send overseas wouldn't be difficult.

"You can break it down in small packets, send it through different bank accounts, perhaps cycle it through private foundations as donations and then send it on," she said. "Also, there are lots of migrant workers throughout the world who send money home."

Family: Saleh Would Never Send Money Overseas

Mohammad Saleh, one of Omran Saleh's nephews, is standing by his uncle.

"I know my uncle," Mohammad Saleh said. "He has nothing to do with terrorists at all. My uncle is a (hard-working man.) I know him, like, 13 years. He loves to work. He got a lot of ambition."

Another nephew, Youseff Saleh, also said that Omran Saleh is not involved with terrorists.

"I think he's a good citizen," Youseff Saleh said. "He loves America. He's a straight person with the law. He don't have any violations. He has never been in jail or anything like that. He's a straight businessman. He's got a lot of things to worry about so I don't think he'd mess with this kind of stuff."

Family members and former employees said they would not be surprised if some of Omran Saleh's employees were selling stolen merchandise. They said also that Saleh is tight-fisted with his money and would never send it overseas, WLWT reported.

Saleh's neighbors at the Seven Gardens Condominiums in Cheviot said he lived there for about three years and was always an unassuming guy. He has lived in the U.S. for 25 years, WLWT reported.

"I was a little shook up," neighbor Jack Hampton said of the raid. "I didn't know whether it was my door or over there it was so loud."

Hampton said he never had reason to mistrust his neighbor, a man who allegedly laundered millions while wearing unassuming clothes and driving an average car.

"He was very nice, friendly man," Hampton said. "He helped me with my groceries, and I really can't say anything bad about the man. I didn't expect him to be the ring leader of anything."

Suspect's Ex-Wife Tells Different Story

Cheryl Hatter, ex-wife of Saleh "Sam" Hatter, said that her former husband and his associates are deep into illegal activities. She believes it's possible that the group used some of its money to fund terrorist.

Hatter said it was only a matter of time before police showed up at the English Woods convenience store where her husband worked.

News of the raid brought relief, she said.

"I'm not fluent in Arabic in any way shape or form, but I'm not stupid either. You can sit and listen to a conversation and know that there's illegal activity going on.

Cheryl Hatter said televisions, videotapes, CD players and CDs were among the items once stored in her home.

"He would tell people, which I don't know who the people are, but he would tell them what he wanted," Cheryl Hatter said. "They would go out and get it, steal it, and these would be items in my home."

Cheryl Hatter also said that she considers her ex-husband a dangerous man who is living a lifestyle much different from most people who run convenience stores in low-income neighborhoods.