(Editors note- in the rush to get this out, during working hours, I had a few errors- and missed some of the info – so I’ve updated this post 10pm same day)
It’s been a long time in the making, but today, Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, with Robert F. Smith, Samuel J. Kirk, and Thomas Anger as Special Assistant Prosecutors Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck filed against Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley and Judge James Piergies claiming both have received unlawful gains from contracts/public money.
Foley was indicted on attempted unlawful interest in a public contract, three counts of complicity to commit unlawful interest in a public contract, two counts of theft in office, one count of unauthorized use of computer, cable or telecommunication property, a misdemeanor count of solicitation of political contributions from public employees and prohibition against partisan political activity.
Piergies was indicted on three counts of attempted unlawful interest in a public contract.
And while you can read both indictments here, you’d still not know exactly what they did.
The scuttlebutt ranges from that Foley hired Piergies son to work in IT in the Clerks office- and that when he wasn’t qualified, moved him out to the Western County Municipal Court where Piergies runs the show, to Foley making employees canvass or donate to his campaigns, or moved a credit card processing contact to the husband of his assistant- who is almost never in the office. Others say there’s something fishy about a non-profit food pantry that Foley was involved with. There’s also the question of managerial bloat in the clerk’s office including the hiring of some other political insiders. Take your pick.
Either way, the only reason Foley was elected was because his name was Foley and he copied former County Commissioner Dan Foley’s signs- and his opponent was Russ Joseph- who may be the only democrat less liked by voters than me considering he’s lost 2 races where he was the appointed incumbent (after losing the Clerk’s job he got appointed Treasurer only to lose to John McManus).
I’m sure more details of this will start to come out soon, and can only boost the chances that Lynn Cooper [1] (a competent Clerk of Courts veteran) will win in November vs Foley- who will still be entangled in these court cases.
Piergies is a real winner- a homophobe who was endorsed by the Montgomery County Dem Party. [2] It’s unfortunate, but it would be karmic if there was anyway Judge Mary Wiseman could have his case (she’d have to recuse herself). However she did sign off on appointing the special prosecutors in these cases, so there is some payback.
Here’s the two filings:
Just more examples of the “culture of corruption” that rules Montgomery County- the “friends and family” plan for the “monarchy of Montgomery County.”
There’s all kinds of information flowing in and I’m working on getting the rest of the story for you.
This investigation has been going on for over a year. We’ll see if Mat Heck the State Auditor can do better than the feds and actually send some white people to prison.
Great reporting. This kind of stuff is rampant in government and courts.
The completely corrupt criminal democrats who ruined the City of Dayton and most of Montgomery County are prosecuting Republicans for doing what they have been doing for all of our lives lol. You sound like a member of a racist hate group when you make comments about sending white people to prison. In case you didn’t notice the only places in Dayton that are not racist 3rd world shitholes that no one wants to live in are where white people live like you David. A lot of people need to be arrested most especially Democrats for complete corruption in the City of Dayton.
@Snookie- I don’t know what planet you are on.Mike Foley is a Republican. Piergies just became one. This was prosecuted by the State Auditor- a Republican.
And, while there are a whole bunch of criminals in office and working for these elected crooks- both parties are in cahoots around here.
That’s why judges, sheriff’s and the prosecutor never get challenged.
Mike Foley is very, very good friends with disgraced racist ex sheriff Mike Sollenberger who is married to Eliza Sollenberger who was implemented in the raid of the clerks office for using the work equipment for political reasons and also for not coming to work as you stated in a previous post. There was a point in time during Eliza’s employment with the clerks office (2019-2020) that Eliza asked me to help her pass out politically connected flyers in her neighborhood. I don’t know where she got or printed the flyers but I know she didn’t have a home printer capable of making them. I declined helping her as I am not a republican. Both Mike and Eliza are good friends with the owner of With Gods Grace Food Pantry and she allows them to sell insurance (United Health Care) at the With God’s Grace Food Pantry. Though they both are doing the less fortunate a service, they are also taking advantage of the poor standing in line to get food so that they can make money signing them up for insurance. Neither have a good nature or good hearts. Ive met the owner of God’s Grace Food Pantry on many occasions. She is either a good person being taken advantage of and being used by these two crooks or she is part of the scam just playing dumb. I can’t tell which one. Eliza Sollenberger maiden name is Merker of Merker Iron who is currently accusing their ex secretary of stealing 90 thousand dollars from the company. So Eliza steals from Montgomery County by going to work only 3 days a week while collecting a 5 day a week paycheck but is up in arms when someone steals from her father’s company (Check the News). Nothing against Merker Iron because they do great work so don’t let me scare anyone away from doing business with them. Eliza’s mother is Kristy Cox who use to work for the now deceased Judge Kuntz. Judge Kuntz was replaced the current Judge, Judge Wallace. Judge Wallace kept all of Judge Kuntz’s employees until… Read more »
David, I am from same planet you are from! The Democrats are the dominant party in Dayton and they are pure filth. Who voted for their corrupt racist communist state in Dayton? Oh you did you moron white dude.
Great reporting, David.