Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Antoinette Hodge, a former treasurer of Uniontown city, was convicted of stealing approximately $106,000 in taxpayer funds collected by the Treasurer’s Office between 2020 and 2021.
A Fayette County jury returned guilty verdicts against Hodge, 54, for theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, misapplication of entrusted property, obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, and perjury.
The Fayette County District Attorney referred the case to the Office of Attorney General and it was investigated by the Office of Attorney General and the Forty-Eighth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury.
Hodge will be sentenced on November 21.
“The defendant was elected to a position of trust in her community. She abused that trust and defrauded taxpayers for her own gain,” Attorney General Henry said. “Prosecuting these crimes is vital to maintaining the integrity of local government. My office will continue to protect taxpayers and ensure that any individual who tries to abuse their position will face the consequences of their actions.”
Hodge was elected as the City of Uniontown Treasurer in 2019. Her main responsibility was to collect and deposit all cash and checks received by the tax office.
Testimony during the trial revealed that Hodge failed to deposit more than $106,000 in cash; instead using the money for personal expenses. The investigation showed that Hodge spent more than $1,500 per day on lottery games.
Hodge lost her re-election bid and is no longer the elected Treasurer for the City of Uniontown.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Rice.
Original source can be found here.