CLEVELAND — RTA’s former board president, George Dixon III, who resigned last year under allegations that he improperly received more than $1 million in healthcare benefits and unpaid premiums is facing a felony charge.
Dixon has been charged with theft in office, a third-degree felony.
Dixon has agreed to pay $132,000 in restitution and plans to plead guilty to the charge, RTA’s Board of Trustees President Dennis M. Clough stated.
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“Mr. Dixon abused the public's trust for personal benefit. We are encouraged to see that justice is being served,” said Clough. “We do not tolerate abuse of taxpayer money, and we have controls in place to prevent this from happening again.”
Dixon was appointed to the board in 1992 and was president from 1994 until his resignation in March 2018. In 1994, Dixon enrolled in the company healthcare plan but never “fully paid his premiums in accordance with board policies” over a 24-year period. An internal RTA investigation also found that Dixon didn't reimburse the agency for his "extensive personal use" of a company-issued cell phone during a 10-year period.
RELATED: RTA board president resigns amid investigation of his lack of healthcare payments
RTA said it plans to seek more than $1.1 million in unpaid premiums and healthcare benefits for the years Dixon served on the board.
Following Dixon’s resignation, RTA board policy was changed so that trustees are no longer eligible for the company’s healthcare plan.
