Former Eastern Ohio Housing Development Executive Director Sentenced to Prison in Theft of More Than $2.3 Million

Press Release •Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - The former executive director of the Eastern Ohio Housing Development Corp. in Bridgeport was sentenced to 4 years and 11 months in prison Monday in the theft of more than $2.3 million, Auditor of State Keith Faber announced.

Kaycie Antonik also was ordered to pay restitution of $2,360,442.52, which included $19,639 in audit costs, as part of her sentencing hearing in Belmont County Common Pleas Court.

"This was another egregious example of someone abusing the public trust and using public resources for her own benefit," Auditor Faber said.

Eastern Ohio Housing Development receives state and federal funds to provide independent housing to developmentally and chronically mentally ill adults under multi-county boards of developmental disabilities.

Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan contacted the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in March 2023 concerning allegations of potential theft by Antonik.

An SIU investigation identified false invoices for Antonik's husband's company, fraudulent reimbursement and payroll checks to herself, improper purchases using the Eastern Ohio Housing Development debit card, and cash withdrawals made at a West Virginia casino.

Antonik was fired from her position as executive director in April 2023. She pleaded guilty in July to felony counts of aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more, tampering with records, and forgery.

Attorneys from SIU were appointed by Prosecutor Flanagan to serve as special prosecutors in the case.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 145 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.

Public Affairs Contact: Marc Kovac [email protected]