BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A former executive director who admitted to embezzling more than $2 million dollars from a local non-profit was sentenced Monday in Belmont County Common Pleas Court, according to court documents.
Kaycie Antonik, who pleaded guilty in July, received 4 years and 11 months in a women’s reformatory. She had faced charges of aggravated theft of $2.3 million, tampering with records, and two counts of forgery.
Evidence presented in court showed that in 2018, Antonik took $2.3 million from the Eastern Ohio Housing Development District to fund her gambling addiction which centered around slot machines. At the time, Antonik was the executive director of the organization, which provides independent housing for developmentally and mentally ill adults.
Common Pleas Court Judge John Vavra noted some of the ways Antonik stole the funds including double wage payments, forgery, false expense reimbursements, fake invoices, nearly 2,000 personal payments disguised as business transactions, 500 altered checks and 265 improper debit card uses.
As part of her plea agreement, Antonik is required to repay more than $2.3 million in restitution and audit costs.
Representatives from the non-profit and members of Antonik’s family addressed the court at the sentencing hearing and Judge Vavra said he took their statements under consideration in handing down the nearly five-year sentence.
