Former Braking Point owner sentenced to prison, probation, restitution

A long, detailed letter was among Ryan Sheridan's last hopes for leniency ahead of his sentencing Wednesday.

It described his struggles growing up with addict parents, relentless bullying in school, sleeping on sofas - and lean times trying to support a young family while battling his addiction demons.

But it wasn't enough to keep a federal judge from handing down a sentence of 90 months in prison, three years probation and more than $24 million in restitution.

Sheridan got convicted on a six-count federal indictment last Fall - including counts of health care fraud, drug conspiracy, and money laundering.

The feds say Sheridan, his ex-wife, and four others hatched a scheme to bill Medicaid nearly $50 million for drug and alcohol services that were not provided, not medically necessary and lacked proper documentation.

For Sheridan, Wednesday's sentencing marks the bottom of a fall from grace no one saw coming.

The Austintown native built a lavish lifestyle off the success of his recovery center and other ventures - from running with the bulls in Spain to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

But no one knew what else was happening until 2017 when federal agents raided Braking Point in Austintown and Sheridan's home in Leetonia.

They were the first crumbles in the foundation of the empire Sheridan built - at the height of the opioid epidemic.

Authorities arrested him last February.

His facility in Austintown soon closed, he lost everything, and those close to him accused in the scheme eventually admitted their guilt.

Sheridan's legal troubles aren't over yet.

A second home and 20 acres of land he owns in Girard got seized earlier this month.

He also faces trial in Columbiana County on charges of cocaine and possession of other drugs - a painfully ironic twist in the case of a man who was in the business of helping people trying to rid their lives of that very vice.

There are others involved in this case; one of them, Dr. Thomas Bailey, has been sentenced to two years' probation and community service.

Arthur Smith and Lisa Pertee each received sentences Tuesday - Smith to serve two years' probation and Pertee to serve one.

Two others are still awaiting sentencing.