According to a recent announcement from Auditor of State Keith Faber's office, a former Hocking County Commissioner has been hit with a finding for recovery of over $25,000 after a detailed special audit outlined a bevy of fraudulent activities, including theft and telecommunications fraud. Jessica Dicken, who had already paid some $25k in restitution as part of a plea deal from her September conviction that covered illicit credit card purchases made over several years, now owes an additional $191.84 to settle her account with the state.
The report that unfurled this tangled web of misused funds was released today. It is now available for public examination, citing that Dicken's wayward expenditures topped $19,000 dating back to October 2019 and stretched to January 2023, including campaign expenses for her county commissioner run, a family holiday in Florida and, run-on damage sparked by purchases ranging from a wireless pet containment system to a mattress. Dicken was indicted after an investigation sparked by a complaint to the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which acts as a watchdog for fraudulent use of government resources— in this case, the Hocking County Agricultural Society's credit card when Dicken served as the society's secretary.
The consequences for Dicken's actions extended beyond financial dues, as her indictment by the Hocking County Grand Jury in September 2023 preceded her suspension and subsequent resignation from the commissioner's post. The plea agreement in August 2024 marked the end of the official proceedings, with Dicken conceding to felony counts of theft and telecommunications fraud and a misdemeanor count of soliciting or accepting improper compensation.
Special auditing efforts, such as the one that snagged Dicken, are just a facet of the Auditor of State’s ongoing mission to bring transparent governance and accountability to Ohio's public agencies, an effort which since 2019 has led to 130 convictions and recovered over $10 million. They have been proactive about this pursuit, even going so far as serving as special prosecutor in Dicken’s case. Moreover, their office also offers financial services, fraud prevention, and supportive transparency throughout government bodies in the state. According to the Auditor of State Keith Faber's Office, tips about potential fraud can be funneled to their office, with the public being urged to report suspicions anonymously online or through SIU's dedicated fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).
