COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man from Frisco, Texas, has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting his role in stealing nearly $193,000 from Licking County. William Crawford pleaded guilty in January to felony counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft and tampering with records, as part of a phony invoice scheme involving former Licking County Building Services Director Donald Dunston.
Dunston has also pleaded guilty to several counts, including attempted engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and theft in office, and three counts of tampering with records. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
The case came to light in June 2018, when concerns were raised about Dunston’s potential improper use of a county-issued credit card. He was subsequently fired from his position, and a review of his purchasing activities uncovered numerous questionable transactions, including payments made to a fake janitorial service owned by Crawford.
The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) ultimately identified 109 checks totaling $173,469 that was paid to Crawford’s business, Crawford R.A.W. Janitorial, through fake invoices approved by Dunston, knowing that no supplies or equipment were provided to the county.
Crawford and Dunston were once neighbors in Texas, and SIU also identified six checks totaling $19,203 that were paid to a Texas business, Whirl of Windy, for supplies and services that were not provided to the county. Windy Miller, the owner of the business, was indicted and pleaded guilty to a single felony count of theft. She was sentenced to 10 days in jail, five years of community control, and fined $2,500.
Dunston has already made full restitution of the stolen funds and audit costs, and SIU attorneys have served as special prosecutors in the case.
