title: Miami Twp. Trustee Robert Matthews Jr. Is Under Investigation by the Ohio Auditor's Office

Last month, trustees reported Matthews for violating state laws and township policies, referring the case to the Ohio Auditor’s Office.

The Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit has opened an investigation into Miami Twp. Financial Administrator Charles Matthews, according to the state auditor’s office.

Last month, trustees reported Matthews for allegedly violating state laws and township policies, referring the case to the Ohio Auditor’s Office. The cases were initially declined to be investigated by the Auditor of State’s Office, which said Miami Twp.’s financial system had detected and stopped the attempted transaction.

However, at the request of the township’s legal counsel, the office provided details on Ohio’s Fiscal Integrity Act, which outlines procedures for removing officials from office.

On Friday, the governor’s office confirmed that the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit had opened an investigation into Miami Twp., but that is our normal operating procedure when we receive Fiscal Integrity Act complaints, which we did in this instance from the township.

“Because it’s an open investigation, we have no further comment at this time.”

When reached for comment Friday, both township Trustee President Terry Posey Jr. and Matthews declined to comment on the pending investigation.

In a lawsuit filed last month in Montgomery County seeking an injunction, the township alleged that Matthews acted without approval when making financial agreements — including two deals totaling $9.7 million to buy 3,000 gold coins at above-market prices.

He also allegedly arranged for the coins to be stored in Texas for an annual fee. Matthews filed a response to the injunction request by its May 13 deadline, saying the lawsuit was without merit.

He also allegedly arranged for the coins to be stored in Texas for an annual fee. Matthews filed a response to the injunction request by its May 13 deadline, saying the lawsuit was without merit.

Asked for comment regarding that filing, he said, “I want the decision made in the court of law, not the court of public opinion.”