Former Director of Brumback Library Repays $15,000-plus after Investigation Confirms Personal Purchases with Library Credit Card

Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - The former director of the Brumback Library in Van Wert repaid more than $15,000 under a special audit that found he used a library credit card for personal purchases.

Details of the investigation into John Carr are included in a report released Tuesday by the Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), available online at ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

Carr served as library director from July 1992 through his retirement in August 2023. SIU launched its investigation based on concerns raised by the Van Wert County Prosecutor's Office that Carr was making personal purchases using the library's credit card.

SIU reviewed thousands of credit card purchases made between November 2017 and October 2022 and determined that 481 items totaling $15,322.27 were made by Carr for personal use, including kitchenware and clothing.

Tuesday's special audit report included a finding for recovery for that amount, noting that Carr had repaid the total under audit, including $6,683.78 paid directly to the credit card account and $8,638.49 paid to the county.

The Van Wert County Prosecutor's Office appointed an SIU attorney as special prosecutor in the case. At the conclusion of the special audit, SIU declined to pursue criminal charges.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 167 convictions resulting in more than $17.9 million in restitution (see Map of SIU Convictionssince 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).

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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
Contact: Marc Kovac
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