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Cuyahoga County employee accused of embezzling $169,000 to pay for multiple vacations

Posted at 3:09 PM, Nov 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-14 15:09:50-05

CLEVELAND — A woman employed with Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services has been indicted for allegedly embezzling tens of thousands of dollars by using software designed to give caregivers resources when parents are unable to care for their children, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

The woman, Ramonia Garrison, 40, of Clevleand, is charged with aggravated theft, theft in office, tampering with records and telecommunications fraud, according to court records.

Garrison resigned on Sept. 18. She was indicted Wednesday, according to court documents.

Her boyfriend, Antwan Wilcox, 45, is also charged with complicity and receiving stolen property.

The prosecutor's office said that between February 2018 and September 2019, Garrison used software to embezzle more than $169,000 into bank accounts belonging to her and her boyfriend.

According to authorities, the software is specifically designed to manage the Ohio Kinship Permanency Incentive Program. The software "provides time-limited need-based assistance to children's caregivers when birth parents cannot care for them."

Garrison used more than 300 closed accounts and created new or modified old accounts to pad her and her boyfriend's bank account, the prosecutor's office said.

“This individual stole taxpayers’ money to travel the country. A conviction on these charges will prevent future travel as she will likely be confined to a prison cell for several years,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's spokesperson Ryan Midday.

Both Garrison and Wilcox are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 27 for an arraignment.