Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced that Julie M. Neff, a former clerk with the Village of Byesville's utility office in Guernsey County, has pleaded guilty to stealing over $43,000. The embezzled funds came to light following concerns raised about handling utility payments. An investigation by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) revealed Neff's misconduct, which included theft in office and tampering with records.
The judicial proceedings moved swiftly, with Guernsey County Prosecutor Lindsey K. Donehue-Angler filing charges in January of 2025. Neff's guilty plea was entered recently into the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court. The disclosure of the plea comes paired with the revelation that the SIU audit, initiated after the village's fiscal officer flagged potential discrepancies, confirmed Neff stole a total of $43,259.16. Additional fees totaled $454.26 from late payments on Neff’s personal utility account.
Julie M. Neff admitted to her transgressions and is preparing for a sentencing hearing on April 23. In a move that hopes to bring restitution to the affected community, prosecutors will seek over $43,000 for the Village and an additional $84,058.20 to cover the extensive audit costs. According to Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber, these numbers represent a financial recovery effort and reflect a betrayal of public trust that the village must now seek to restore.
The Special Investigations Unit, a branch of the Auditor of State’s office, has played a crucial role in these cases, leading to 130 convictions and more than $13 million in restitution since 2019. The SIU, which takes in hundreds of fraud tips each year, allows individuals to report suspected cases of corruption through its website or fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH. Through diligent work, it aims to maintain the integrity of public service in Ohio and deter future misconduct by holding offenders like Neff accountable.
