…Researched and contributed by Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
A local government accountant from Wilkesville, Ohio, named Cyril S. Vierstra, was recently sentenced to nearly five years in prison for embezzling approximately $310,000 from his employers.
Vierstra used the stolen money to purchase a bizarre list of luxury items that included five hot tubs, golf carts, gazebos, a drum set, and even owls and wildebeest for his roadside zoo.
The full list of purchases has been made public, and auditors uncovered that Vierstra had misappropriated at least $311,608.
His purchases were made on behalf of Union Ridge Wildlife Centre, a business where Vierstra’s name was found on state records.
The investigation started in 2020, after suspicious purchases were noticed from Wilkesville’s official debit and credit cards.
The auditors found that public funds, intended for infrastructure and essential services, had been stolen to buy items for Vierstra’s personal use.
The Auditor of State Keith Faber described Vierstra’s actions as an abuse of public trust at its worst.
A search of Vierstra’s home uncovered several purchases, including a brand-new golf cart, a high-end lawn mower, an animal rescue trailer, and six UPVC windows waiting to be installed.
Investigators discovered that Vierstra had planned to create a zoo and start an Airbnb rental business at his home.
In October 2022, Vierstra pleaded guilty to felony counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, tampering with records, and a misdemeanour offense of dereliction of duty.
He was sentenced in February 2023 to four years and 11 months in prison and ordered to pay $339,717.86 in restitution, which included audit costs as well as replacing the stolen money.
The case highlights the importance of transparency in government financial transactions and serves as a reminder that public officials who engage in fraudulent activities will be held accountable for their actions.