LaRose issues statement on criminal case involving Ohio campaign treasurer

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued the following statement Thursday regarding the guilty plea entered in federal court by William Curlis, the treasurer for more than 100 local, state and federal Republican campaigns who was charged with stealing $1 million in campaign funds from his clients:

“This is a matter first pursued by my office’s public integrity division, which then brought it to the attention of federal law enforcement officials. This guilty plea proves that if you break the law and steal money or votes from Ohioans, we will find you and hold you accountable. The real victims here are the people who gave a few bucks of their paycheck to help a candidate and had it stolen from them. 

“It’s an important reminder that candidates should always keep an eye on their financial statements and ask treasurers to explain every dime. We see this far too often, where candidates simply trust that campaign finance reports filed on their behalf are honest and accurate, when a tip, an audit or a few simple questions uncovers wrongdoing. Let this case be a warning that you can trust, but you should always verify.”

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