Former Westside Academy Business Manager Indicted Following Investigation into Improper Spending, Reimbursements

COLUMBUS — A former employee of a Columbus charter school was arraigned Wednesday on multiple criminal charges following an investigation by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

Michelle Scott, former business manager at the Westside Academy, faces felony counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, and tampering with records, under an indictment filed last month in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

SIU received a complaint in March 2023 alleging potential fraud by Scott. SIU identified unauthorized payments, personal purchases, tuition reimbursements, and credit-card transactions totaling more than $400,000.

Scott allegedly used false vendor names and altered credit-card statements in an attempt to conceal the activities.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 136 convictions resulting in more than $13 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
press@ohioauditor.gov