In The News 25 September 2024

Former Hocking County commissioner, Ag Society secretary sentenced for theft, telecommunications fraud

COLUMBUS — A former Hocking County commissioner paid more than $25,000 in restitution Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to theft and other criminal counts related to fraudulent credit card purchases.

Jessica Dicken also must complete 500 hours of community service and will be subject to community control for five years as part of her sentence, which was announced Tuesday in Hocking County Common Pleas Court.

The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation after receiving a complaint alleging fraudulent use of the Hocking County Agricultural Society’s credit card during Dicken’s time as the Society’s secretary.

SIU determined Dicken had made more than $19,000 in fraudulent credit card purchases, including to help finance her 2022 campaign for Hocking County Commissioner, to pay for a rental vehicle during a family vacation to Florida, and for various other purchases.

She was indicted by the Hocking County Grand Jury in September 2023. She subsequently was suspended from serving as a Hocking County Commissioner and ultimately resigned from that elected post.

In August 2024, she pleaded guilty to felony counts of theft and telecommunications fraud and a misdemeanor count of soliciting or accepting improper compensation.

As part of a plea agreement, she paid restitution totaling $25,090.69, including $14,417.02 to the Hocking County Agricultural Society, $4,667.17 to Vinton County National Bank, and $6,006.50 in audit costs.

SIU was appointed to serve as special prosecutor in the case.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 125 convictions resulting in more than $9 million in restitution (see Map of SIU Convictions since January 2019). The team receives hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU’s fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).

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