BUCYRUS — The former executive director of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday after admitting to stealing more than $60,000 from the organization.
Miranda M. Jones, 44, pleaded guilty in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to several felony charges, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, identity fraud, grand theft, and forgery.
As part of her sentence, Judge Sean Leuthold ordered Jones to pay a total of $115,310.31 in restitution. This includes $64,007.31 to the organization—now known as the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce—and $51,303 to the Treasurer of the State of Ohio to cover the costs of a forensic audit.
The case stemmed from an investigation by the Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) after the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance when chamber board members discovered suspected financial irregularities. Investigators determined Jones had used a chamber credit card for personal purchases, falsified financial records, and made improper cash withdrawals, among other actions.
Samuel Kirk from the Special Investigations Unit was appointed as special prosecutor in the case by the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office.
During the hearing, Jones reportedly expressed remorse, stating she was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time of the crimes. However, Judge Leuthold emphasized the severity of the betrayal of trust, noting that if full restitution hadn’t been made, the sentence could have been significantly longer.
Jones was given credit for 137 days she has already served in jail.
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