Docs: Former Columbus Township trustee spent $1.1 million on township credit card for personal expen

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- The Indiana State Board of Accounts has released an audit alleging that a former Columbus Township trustee used the township's credit card for more than $1 million in personal purchases, including cannabis, international trips, home improvement projects and his kids' college tuition fees.




According to documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, the state launched an investigation last year after an anonymous source claimed Benjamin Jackson had charged $1.12 million on the township credit card for personal expenses between Dec. 14, 2016, and Nov. 22, 2024.

What does the SBOA report say?

The SBOA's special investigation report, filed on May 21, revealed that an anonymous source contacted the state on Oct. 15, 2024, accusing Jackson of misusing the township's credit card for personal expenses.




Jackson served as the Columbus Township trustee from July 1, 2013, until he resigned on Nov. 22, 2024, amid an investigation led by the SBOA and the Indiana State Police. The source accused Jackson of using the township credit card to purchase first-class airline tickets for himself and his wife on several occasions.




Early on in its investigation, SBOA noted a significant growth in the total credit card expenditures during Jackson's tenure as trustee.




"From 2013 to 2023, the SBOA noted that the Township had reported $1,120,392.55 in credit card expenditures," the SBOA report said.




When the SBOA initially questioned Jackson on Oct. 29, 2024, he reportedly said none of the credit card purchases were for personal purposes. When he was asked why he had allegedly brought his wife with him to attend business conferences, Jackson said he brought her many years ago and had repaid her airline ticket by check, the report said.




Jackson proceeded to supply the SBOA with the four most recent credit card statements. SBOA then asked Jackson to elaborate on why he had reportedly used the credit card to purchase airline tickets to Zurich, Switzerland. He declined to answer any more questions at that time without having his attorney present, the report said.




The SBOA then obtained credit card statements outlining purchases Jackson made between 2017 and 2024.




"Upon review of the four most recent statements, it was apparent that the credit card was being used for personal expenditures," the SBOA said.

Report: Over $1 million spent on personal expenses

Upon further review of the township credit card statements, SBOA determined that $1,283,772.04 was spent for purchases made on a township credit card that was issued to Jackson.




"Based on this review, the SBOA determined $1,123,334.27 as personal expenses (88%), $121,093.58 as Township business expenses (9%), and $39,344.19 as questionable expenses (3%)," the SBOA report said.




According to the SBOA report, the majority of the personal expenses were spent on travel ($657,831.46) and retail ($150,078.95). Some of these alleged personal trips included visits to Disney World, San Diego, Miami, Germany, Australia, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.




Other expenses included tuition fees, utilities, meals, groceries, alcohol, home improvement projects, healthcare, taxes, dry cleaning, subscriptions and cannabis.




The report also documented how Jackson allegedly spent $90,915.97 on tuition and school expenses for his children to attend DePaul University in Chicago, DePauw University, Indiana University, Longy School of Music in Massachusetts and Dancers Studio in Columbus.




SBOA conducted an interview with Jackson on Dec. 2, 2024, at the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office. He confirmed during the interview that he was the only employee who was aware that he was using the township credit card for personal expenses. He said no other employees used their credit cards inappropriately and that none of his family members knew what he was doing, according to the report.




He added that he would receive credit card statements in the mail before writing and mailing a check. He stated that no other employee would review the statements and that he rarely had supporting documentation for purchases made.




Jackson reportedly admitted that he lied about being a keynote speaker at a homelessness conference in Australia in January 2020.




"He confirmed that there was no conference that he attended. When asked, Jackson said he took this trip because he wanted to visit Australia," the SBOA report said.




The report highlighted how a lack of internal controls contributed to the issues, as no other employees were reviewing Jackson's credit card purchases.

Next steps

The state is requesting that Jackson pay a total of $1,223,319.19 for his alleged unauthorized personal use of the township credit card and the special investigation costs.




The township updated its internal control procedures on May 14. These changes include having the trustee, chief deputy and fire chief "maintain control of their individual township credit cards." All of them will be responsible for maintaining records detailing monthly charges, any items they may have purchased and presenting these documents to the trustee for review.




The documents will then be shared with the clerk before they are presented to board members during the next monthly meeting.




SBOA confirmed its special investigation report has been shared with the Indiana Attorney General's Office, Bartholomew County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana.





via: https://fox59.com/news/docs-former-columbus-township-trustee-spent-1-1-million-on-township-credit-card-for-personal-expenses/