Findings for recovery totaling $16,614 issued against former Richland JFS director

Findings for recovery totaling $16,614 were issued this month against the former director of Richland County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS), who was allegedly paid for more than 350 hours when she was not actually working.

The determination was included in a special audit conducted by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which received a complaint that former Richland County JFS Director Tresa Sharlene Neumann had allegedly been paid for time when she was not actually at work or was conducting personal business, among other issues.

The full special audit detailing allegations against Neumann and other JFS employees and the resulting investigation is available online at https://ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

The special audit, which covered April 5, 2021 through Aug. 6, 2022, confirmed that Neumann allegedly either left early or arrived late, was absent altogether or conducted personal business during working hours without submission of proper leave requests.

The Auditor of State’s Office, serving as special prosecutor in the case, determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges but that the findings for recovery were warranted.

Neumann resigned in August 2022. She and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for Tuesday’s findings for recovery.

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