A former Educational Service Center Council of Governments intervention specialist in Lawrence County, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to the felony charge of theft in office after being accused of falsely claiming janitorial hours—hours she never actually worked, according to a statement from the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's office. Megan Catalogna has agreed to a plea deal that will have her repaying $16,707.50 for the time she didn't work and incurred costs, in addition to a sentence that includes a potential 18-month prison term, an imposition suspended on the condition that she abides by the four-year community control requirement and completes her mandated 400 hours of community service.
The plea agreement also stipulates that Catalogna will be excluded indefinitely from holding any position of public employment or trust, a heavy consequence for the breach of public confidence she carried out at Tri-State STEM+M High School in South Point, where she submitted fraudulent timesheets, this matter surfaced following an investigation launched by the State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) after receiving tips hinting at Catalogna's misconduct, the Auditor of State's Special Investigation Unit, which has a not insignificant record of pursuing and achieving convictions in similar cases of fraud and malfeasance in office, with a reported 131 convictions and over $10 million in restitution since 2019.
The Lawrence County Grand Jury brought forth an indictment against Catalogna in November; meanwhile, SIU, with its broad remit to bring accountability to public service, led the prosecution in the case—a reminder that they actively receive reports of fraud and encourage reports through their online platform and fraud hotline, 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364), for whistleblowers and concerned citizens alike to anonymously report suspected fraudulent activity.
The Auditor of State's Office, headed by Auditor Keith Faber, continues its mandated oversight of over 5,900 state and local agencies, bringing not just auditing services, but also leading efforts to root out fraud and enforce transparency in public agencies—fundamental pillars of a functioning democratic system where trust between the public and their servants must be, at all times, above reproach; pervaded with a sense of duty and adherence to ethical standards that Megan Catalogna, by her admission, failed to uphold.
