Columbus – Members of the State Auditor’s Public Integrity Assurance Team (PIAT) executed a  search warrant today at the Muskingum County Engineer’s Office, 155 Rehl Rd., Zanesville. The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department and agents of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) assisted in the execution of the search warrant. 

State Auditor Dave Yost’s office received a complaint in early December, 2017, alleging improprieties involving the engineer’s office. The Auditor’s Special Audit Task Force, comprised of senior staff in the Auditor’s Office, reviewed evidence gathered by PIAT and voted to begin a preliminary investigation and audit. The subsequent investigation, which involved both the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department and Prosecutor’s Office, provided evidence used to obtain the search warrant. The warrant was issued Wednesday, March 14.

Because the investigation and audit are ongoing, the Auditor’s office will have no further comment.

Anyone with information regarding possible government theft in Ohio can contact the Fraud Hotline at 1-866-FRAUD. Tips to the hotline are confidential and investigated by the Public Integrity Assurance Team. 

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Beth Gianforcaro
Press Secretary
614-644-1111