The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation earlier this month searched the home and business of Monte Zinn, who was once the largest automobile dealer in Clark County.

On Feb. 8, BCI special investigation agents raided Zinn’s home at 2570 Myers Road and Monte Zinn Automotive Consulting at 1184 E. Home Road with the assistance of Clark County sheriff’s deputies, according to public records at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities conducted the search at both locations between 10:17 a.m. and 3:24 p.m. But court records detailing any items collected during the search have been sealed, BCI spokeswoman Jill Del Greco said.

Del Greco added that BCI assisted another agency during the search and declined to comment further.

Zinn could not be reached for comment about the search. A person who answered the phone at his consulting company told the Springfield News-Sun that he was out of town for a couple weeks and was unavailable.

Fred Alverson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said he was unable to find any information about the case.

“I don’t know if it was a federal agency or, if it was, which one,” Alverson said.

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said his office was asked to assist BCI, but deputies don’t have information about the investigation.

“Deputies stood with BCI as they conducted the search, but I can’t say why or what,” Kelly said.

Zinn pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge in 1995, ending a four-year investigation into his contact with citizens from the Fiji Islands.

The Zinn investigation began in 1991 with a complaint from a Fiji exchange student that Zinn made unwanted sexual advances toward him. Zinn denied the allegations.

Zinn pleaded guilty to falsifying documents and using false information to help Fijian citizens illegally enter the United States and work at his dealership.

U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice said then that the conspiracy, which occurred between July 9, 1990, and Dec. 27, 1990, involved Zinn falsely claiming that the students possessed the necessary qualifications to obtain training at his dealership.

He was sentenced to two years probation in 1996. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine, perform 100 hours of community service and not travel to Fiji or sponsor any students from Fiji.

After the immigration fraud case, all five auto franchises under the Monte Zinn name were transferred to the Cincinnati-based Jeff Wyler Auto Group in 2000.