Latest news with #AuditorOfState
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Athens County woman purchased helicopter tour, concert tickets, in theft of over $2.8 million
ATHENS, Ohio (WCMH) – An Athens County woman arrested and convicted of theft of public resources has been ordered to pay back over $2.8 million. According to the Auditor of State's Office, Jodi Rickard pleaded guilty in June 2023 to seven felony counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, tampering with evidence, and tampering with records. The finding against Rickard, the former executive director of the Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority, included $2,325,395.12 in restitution earlier ordered by Athens County Common Pleas Court, plus an additional $529,850 identified by the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit. Ohio State asks judge to limit what Strauss survivors say to media amid civil lawsuit The crimes occurred between the fiscal years of 2008 and 2023, and an investigation was launched after state auditors faced numerous delays in attempting to review the Housing Authority. In December 2022, search warrants were executed at the agency and determined that more than $2.3 million was taken from the agency's accounts and used by Rickard for personal gain. Documents state that Rickard, of Albany, made over 5,500 online shopping orders, including Amazon, Walmart and Apple. She also had other significant expenditures, including travel and airfare expenditures in excess of $250,000. Those expenses also included trips to Disney World, a $4,000 helicopter tour in Hawaii and a Sandals Resort Vacation in the Bahamas. Home-improvement expenses for Rickard included a $73,000 heated, in-ground swimming pool, a carport, flagpole, concert tickets totaling over $28,000, and a mobile trailer. Rickard, who was indicted in February 2023, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 8-to-12 years in prison. To date, however, only $507,296.63 of the court-ordered restitution has been paid. She will be eligible for judicial release after five years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Township fiscal officer faces state investigation over alleged misuse of funds
May 17—A Miami Twp. official accused of misusing his authority will now face a state investigation. Township officials allege that Fiscal Officer Bob Matthews improperly withdrew township funds and attempted to send money to coin dealers. When the transaction was flagged as unauthorized, Matthews allegedly tried to fire the finance director who blocked it. Last month, trustees reported Matthews for violating state laws and township policies, referring the case to the Ohio Auditor's Office. Initially, the Auditor of State's Office declined to investigate, stating that Miami Twp.'s financial system had detected and stopped the attempted transaction. However, Auditor of State spokesman Marc Kovac told this news outlet that at the request of the township's legal counsel, the office provided details on Ohio's Fiscal Integrity Act, which outlines procedures for removing officials from office. On Friday, Kovac told the Dayton Daily News that the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit had opened an investigation into Miami Twp. "but that is our normal operating procedure when we receive Fiscal Integrity Act complaints, which we did in this instance from the township," he said. "Because it's an open investigation, we have no further comment at this time," Kovac said. When reached for comment Friday, both township Trustee President Terry Posey Jr. and Matthews declined to comment on the pending investigation. In a lawsuit filed last month in Montgomery County seeking an injunction, the township alleged that Matthews acted without approval when making financial agreements — including two deals totaling $9.7 million to buy 3,000 gold coins at above-market prices. He also allegedly arranged for the coins to be stored in Texas for an annual fee. Matthews filed a response to the injunction request by its May 13 deadline, saying the lawsuit was without merit. Asked for comment regarding that filing, he said, "I want the decision made in the court of law, not the court of public opinion."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Township fiscal officer faces state investigation over alleged misuse of funds
May 17—A Miami Twp. official accused of misusing his authority will now face a state investigation. Township officials allege that Fiscal Officer Bob Matthews improperly withdrew township funds and attempted to send money to coin dealers. When the transaction was flagged as unauthorized, Matthews allegedly tried to fire the finance director who blocked it. Last month, trustees reported Matthews for violating state laws and township policies, referring the case to the Ohio Auditor's Office. Initially, the Auditor of State's Office declined to investigate, stating that Miami Twp.'s financial system had detected and stopped the attempted transaction. However, Auditor of State spokesman Marc Kovac told this news outlet that at the request of the township's legal counsel, the office provided details on Ohio's Fiscal Integrity Act, which outlines procedures for removing officials from office. On Friday, Kovac told the Dayton Daily News that the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit had opened an investigation into Miami Twp. "but that is our normal operating procedure when we receive Fiscal Integrity Act complaints, which we did in this instance from the township," he said. "Because it's an open investigation, we have no further comment at this time," Kovac said. When reached for comment Friday, both township Trustee President Terry Posey Jr. and Matthews declined to comment on the pending investigation. In a lawsuit filed last month in Montgomery County seeking an injunction, the township alleged that Matthews acted without approval when making financial agreements — including two deals totaling $9.7 million to buy 3,000 gold coins at above-market prices. He also allegedly arranged for the coins to be stored in Texas for an annual fee. Matthews filed a response to the injunction request by its May 13 deadline, saying the lawsuit was without merit. Asked for comment regarding that filing, he said, "I want the decision made in the court of law, not the court of public opinion."
