Findings for Recovery Totaling More Than $480,000 Issued Against Former Columbus Charter School Employee

Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - Findings for recovery totaling more than $480,000 were issued Tuesday against the former business manager of a Columbus Charter School who was convicted of stealing public resources.

The total included $363,384.44 in court-ordered restitution and an additional $116,750.79 in misappropriated or uncollected funds attributed to the actions of Michelle Scott, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to a felony theft in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

Details of the investigation into Scott's crimes are included in a special audit report released Tuesday, available online at ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

The Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) received a complaint in March 2023 alleging potential fraud by Scott, the former business manager at the Westside Academy.

SIU identified unauthorized payments to her personal bank accounts, personal purchases made with the academy's credit card, and unallowable tuition reimbursements. Scott used false vendor names and altered credit card statements in an attempt to conceal the activities.

Scott was indicted in April 2025, pleaded guilty in March 2026 and was sentenced the following month to four years in prison. She has paid $3,000 toward her court-ordered restitution.

Scott and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for the findings for recovery included in Tuesday's special audit report.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 172 convictions resulting in more than $18.1 million in restitution (see Map of 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).

###

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
[email protected]