Contact:

Allie Dumski
Press Secretary
(614) 644-1111

Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced today that former Village of Unionville Center Fiscal Officer Christa Lee Williams has been indicted on one count of Theft in Office (Felony of the 3rd degree), one count of Forgery (Felony of the 4^th degree), one count of Tampering with Records (Felony of the 3^rd degree), one count of Telecommunications Fraud (Felony of the 3^rd degree), and one count of Filing Incomplete, False and Fraudulent Returns (Felony of the 5^th degree) by a Union County Grand Jury.

"In the last three years my investigators have secured more than 70 convictions of those entrusted with public dollars that have chosen to abuse the public's trust," said Auditor Faber. "This is just another case where we will make certain that justice will come to those that choose to steal from Ohio's taxpayers."

The indictment follows an investigation by SIU, which was initially opened after suspicious checks were located during the course of the Village’s basic audit during the summer of 2020.  Upon conclusion of SIU’s investigation, the forensic audit found a total of $81,165 in Village checks issued to both Christa Williams and her husband, Patrick Williams, deemed not for proper public purpose.  In her role as Fiscal Officer, Williams was responsible for all Village accounting duties.

Williams was arrested on the warrant upon indictment on January 31, 2022, and was arraigned later this afternoon in the Union County Court of Common Pleas.

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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 6,000 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.