Auditor Investigating Ex-Strongsville Schools Employee

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Law enforcement are investigating an ex-Strongsville Schools employee, the district announced Thursday afternoon. A former maintenance foreman for the district is being investigating for stealing goods from the school system.

In June 2017, an anonymous tip was shared with Strongsville Superintendent Cameron Ryba about fraudulent activities involving this maintenance foreman. Ryba immediately called for an internal audit and reported the allegation to the district's lead auditor from the Ohio Auditor's office.

The information collected in the audit, and a separate report made through the fraud hotline, spurred a police investigation and the execution of a search warrant on Thursday.

"The District has and will continue to work closely with the Ohio Auditor of the State’s office to recover all of the stolen material goods, as well as recoup all financial losses. Much of the district property was recovered today," a Strongsville Schools spokesperson said in an email.

It is not clear what may have been taken by this foreman.

The Ohio Auditor of the State will handle the ongoing investigation and will be responsible for any future criminal charges. The district spokesperson said the Strongsville Schools will continue to offer any assistance needed to the investigation.

The spokesperson said the district will not comment on the matter further because it is a pending investigation.

The search warrant was executed by the Ohio Auditor of the State and the Lorain County Sheriff's Department.

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