Former Utility Clerk for the Village of Ashley in Delaware County Indicted in Alleged Theft of Utility Payments

Press Release •Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - The Delaware County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against the former utility clerk for the Village of Ashley in the alleged theft of utility payments.

Allison McClain faces single felony counts of theft in office and telecommunications fraud and four felony counts of tampering with records.

Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation after the village identified discrepancies in utility deposits. SIU determined that McClain had stolen utility payments totaling more than $70,000 between August 2022 and May 2024.

The Delaware County Prosecutor's Office appointed an SIU attorney as special prosecutor in the case.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 154 convictions resulting in more than $16 million in restitution (see Map of SIU Convictions since January 2019). The team receives hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU's fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).

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The Auditor of State's Office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.