A judge has removed a Miami Township fiscal officer from office after he attempted to invest nearly $10 million in township funds into gold coins without proper authorization.
According to Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Dave Yost announced the ruling Tuesday following a decision by Visiting Judge Jonathan P. Hein in Montgomery County.
The court found that former fiscal officer Robert Matthews violated state law and township policy in March 2025 when he withdrew $9.7 million from a township investment account without approval from trustees.
Prosecutors said Matthews intended to use the funds to purchase gold coins, a move that would have cost the township more than $380,000 in transaction fees and an additional $32,000 annually for storage. The transaction was ultimately stopped after a bank alerted the township’s finance director.
“He overstepped his authority by a mile, playing King Midas with money that didn’t belong to him,” Yost said in a statement. “Miami Township deserves dependable elected officials who operate within the bounds of the law.”
Under Ohio law, township fiscal officers are limited to clerical duties such as maintaining financial records and documenting meetings. The law also requires that any spending of township funds be approved by at least two trustees and countersigned by the fiscal officer.
Matthews had been temporarily suspended from his duties in October 2025 after the state sought his removal. Following the court’s decision, he is now barred from holding public office for four years.
Officials say Miami Township can now begin the process of appointing a new fiscal officer.
The removal process stems from reforms tied to the Fiscal Integrity Act, championed by Yost during his time as Ohio Auditor of State.
