The
Montgomery County Grand Jury has charged 50 year old
James M. Wantz in a 144 count indictment. These
charges are a result of the defendant’s actions while an
employee of Hillgrove Cemetery, 1002 E. Central Ave. in
Miamisburg, Ohio.
The
defendant has been indicted for:
·
1 count of Grand Theft > $5,000
·
2 counts of Theft
·
1 count of Theft > $500
·
1 count of Tampering With Evidence
·
29 counts of Money Laundering
·
70 counts of Forgery
·
40 counts of Endowment Care Trust Violation
The
defendant, who was responsible for the financial and
day-to-day operations of the business, was discovered by
the Hillgrove Cemetery Board to have embezzled some
$51,784.02 between March, 2002 and May, 2005.
In
addition, the defendant was found not to have paid the
required monthly fees to the Endowment Care Trust Fund
as required, and as he had reported to the Board. As a
result, the Hillgrove Cemetery has become insolvent, and
the municipalities of Miamisburg and Miami Township are
now running the Cemetery.
Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. said, “While ‘white collar’
crimes may not be as sensational as an armed robbery,
the victims of these crimes lose their money just the
same. We intend to prosecute ALL such cases, and hold
those convicted accountable for their actions.”
