Ohio GOP campaign treasurer stole from GOP candidates
Source 1-https://www.nbc4i.com/news/your-local-election-hq/political-campaign-treasurer-charged-with-stealing-nearly-1-million-from-ohio-candidates/
snip-"COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A prolific campaign treasurer for more than 100 Ohio political candidates, including many Republicans, has been federally charged with stealing almost $1 million in campaign funds.
William Curlis, 76, was charged with wire fraud Thursday for allegedly stealing more than $995,000 from various candidates’ funds and a political action committee for which he was treasurer. Court documents show a proposed plea agreement, suggesting Curlis plans to plead guilty.
According to court documents, from 2008 until June 2023, Curlis wrote himself multiple checks from candidates’ campaign funds and one PAC’s fund while serving as treasurer. To conceal the theft, he allegedly transferred funds between accounts without candidates’ knowledge and falsified corresponding campaign finance reports.
“As the campaign treasurer and only signatory on numerous bank accounts, Curlis took advantage of his trusted position and wrote checks to himself from the accounts of multiple candidates and one PAC,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said in a news release. “I urge candidates, PACs, and businesses alike to protect themselves from future fraud by examining their accounting processes for vulnerabilities and other blind spots.”
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Second source- 2023
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/12/3-ohio-republicans-accuse-shared-campaign-treasurer-of-pocketing-cash/70834818007/
snip-"Three Franklin County Republicans are accusing their campaign treasurer of writing himself unauthorized checks or filing inaccurate campaign reports that vastly overstated how much was in their bank accounts.
State Sen. Stephanie Kunze, R-Hilliard; former Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien and Franklin County Engineer Cornell Robertson have filed complaints with the Ohio Elections Commission about William Curlis, a longtime Republican treasurer. Kunze alleged that Curlis "secretly wrote" a series of unapproved checks to himself. The other two reported significant inaccuracies on their campaign accounts. "
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