COLUMBUS, Ohio – The grimy details of a decades-long embezzlement scheme have come to light as William Curlis, 76, pleaded guilty in federal court for stealing nearly $1 million from campaign funds.
Since the 1980s, Curlis served as a trusted campaign treasurer for over 100 candidates. However, his role as a financial guardian was just a facade as he systematically siphoned off campaign funds to line his own pockets.
The court documents reveal that from 2008 until June 2023, Curlis defrauded candidates out of approximately $995,231. He admitted writing checks from candidate bank accounts and one PAC for personal use, moving funds between accounts to conceal the theft.
Between 2000 and 2023, Curlis was the primary signatory on at least 111 bank accounts, with sole signatory status in 108 of them. His own records show he wrote at least 179 checks to himself from campaign accounts across 18 different candidates and one PAC.
Desperate to cover his tracks, Curlis even sold his home in 2016 to pay off campaign expenses, preventing any discovery of his theft. Wire fraud, the charge against him, is a federal crime that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
In response to this despicable act, Curlis has agreed to pay $995,231 in restitution. The investigation into this case was led by the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, with support from various state agencies including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Ohio Auditor’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight represents the United States in this case.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, FBI Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Curlis’ guilty plea on May 8 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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