Political campaign treasurer accused of embezzling nearly $1 million — Dollars in packs money. American currency business concept with dollars bill banknotes. Jackpot winning cash rain background texture. 3d illustration.

COLUMBUS, OH – A longtime political campaign treasurer faces charges for embezzling almost $1 million from campaign funds.

William Curlis, 76, of Columbus, has been charged with wire fraud for misappropriating approximately $995,231 in campaign funds from over 100 candidates since the 1980s. The charges, alongside a plea document, were filed today, with a plea hearing to be scheduled.

Curlis’s scheme, running from 2008 to June 2023, involved writing personal checks from the accounts of various candidates and a Political Action Committee (PAC), alongside unauthorized fund transfers between campaign accounts to hide financial shortfalls. In a bid to cover campaign-related expenses and prevent the discovery of his actions, Curlis sold his home in 2016.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker emphasized the breach of trust involved, urging political figures and entities to assess and fortify their financial oversight mechanisms. The case highlights the broader issue of embezzlement, stemming from exploitation of trust, and calls for heightened vigilance in financial management.

The case has drawn attention from both state and federal law enforcement, including the FBI and Ohio’s Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices, all underscoring the commitment to uncovering and prosecuting financial crimes within political campaign financing. Wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

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