The saga of alleged unlawful contracting within the Richland County mental health board has led to formal charges against two of its former authorities. The Richland County Grand Jury made public their indictments against Joseph Trolian and Jay Wachs, who have ties to the county's Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services, as reported by the Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber.
Trolian, the agency's former executive director, is facing a felony count for having an unlawful interest in a public contract, alongside three misdemeanors for the same charge, and for conflict of interest. Wachs, a past board member, has been slapped with two felony counts, two misdemeanors of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, and two conflict-of-interest misdemeanors. The indictments were made available yesterday at the Richland County Common Pleas Court.
The Ohio Auditor's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) triggered an inquiry back in October 2023 when suspicions arose that Trolian and Wachs may have personally profited through agency contracts. Trolian is accused of leveraging his role to land a training contract expected to financially benefit his wife. Meanwhile, Wachs allegedly used his influence to gain a contract that would advantage both himself and his company.
The SIU, since 2019, has played a fundamental role in securing convictions that amount to over $16 million in demanded repayments, reminding the public that they can report suspected fraud confidentially online, or through their hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364), they reported. Amidst the 145 convictions the unit has aided since that year, the cases of Trolian and Wachs bring to sharp relief the vigilance required in the stewardship of public funds and trust.
