Former Lake County Auditor’s Office employee pleads guilty
Ohio Auditor of State
COLUMBUS — A former employee of the Lake County Auditor’s Office has pleaded guilty after an investigation determined she was paid for time off based on fraudulent medical excuses.
Colleen Insana admitted to a single felony count of theft in office Tuesday in Lake County Common Pleas Court. The judgment entry notes potential restitution and audit costs of about $9,800.
The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation after receiving a complaint about the alleged crimes.
SIU identified multiple instances in which Insana submitted forged medical excuse documents, resulting in paid leave time of more than $5,500.
Sentencing will take place at a later date.
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Former Belpre Township trustee pleads
no contest in Washington County
COLUMBUS — A former Belpre Township trustee pleaded no contest Tuesday to having an unlawful interest in a public contract award after he voted to award a road repair contract to a company owned by his mother.
Curt Welch was ordered to pay $1,290.50 in special audit costs and a $250 fine and court costs during a hearing in Washington County Common Pleas Court, where he submitted his plea to the misdemeanor count.
The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Ohio Ethics Commission jointly investigated the case.
They confirmed that Welch participated in a vote during an emergency township trustee meeting in October 2023 to approve payment of $33,816 for a culvert replacement and slip repair project that was completed a few months earlier without prior approval or required competitive bidding for the work.
The contract for the project was awarded to a company where Welch was an employee and that was owned and operated by his mother.
Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 171 convictions resulting in more than $17.9 million in restitution. 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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