Councilman Asks for FBI Investigation of NEON

Mar 31, 2026

Councilman Mike Polensek has sent a letter to the Acting Special -Agent-In-Charge of the Cleveland FBI office requesting that they investigate Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services Inc. (NEON).

"I am officially asking that the Cleveland Office of the FBI open an investigation into the operation and practices of the NEON Health Services Inc. and their mismanagement of the Eastside Market," Council Polensek's letter reads.

Both Councilman Polensek and Councilman Kevin Conwell have spoken recently at meetings about issues at NEON and the Eastside Market, which is owned by the city.  

The Eastside Market is closing after the city of Cleveland declined to renew its lease with NEON, the market’s operator. NEON owes back property taxes and utility bills.

NEON is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with seven clinics in Cleveland, though two are closed. FQHC centers qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other benefits and serve an underserved area or population including uninsured or underinsured individuals and often offer a sliding fee scale.

Some of the clinics are in both Councilmen's wards and the Eastside Market is in Councilman Conwell's ward. Councilman Polensek has sharply criticized NEON’s board of directors for allowing serious issues to persist unchecked.

Two weeks ago, more than 20 NEON workers announced they’d sue for unpaid wages.

Councilman Polensek's letter brings up other issues, including dilapidated properties that they own, and the 2023 conviction of Arthur Fayne for defrauding the non-profit of more than $880,000 from the Eastside Market project.  

Council Polensek asked near the end of the letter that the "FBI do a detailed in-depth investigation into the NEON Health Services Inc. along with any subsidiaries they may be associated with, and/or any real property they control or manage." Full letter.

Contact Councilman Mike Polensek at 216-664-4236.