Pataskala Man indicted for Fraud in Muskingum County

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A Pataskala man was arrested and was indicted in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas for about 65 counts.

According to Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz, the Sheriff’s Office was notified and investigated Michael Mathew for theft, acting as Unlicensed Securities Dealer, Securities Fraud, and Publishing a False Statement, all of which happened in Muskingum County.

“As the case has been unfolding we got involved during the investigation and our part of it was able to get it to the Prosecutors Office, take it for grand jury and got indictments and I believe he was arraigned today,” Lutz said.

Lutz said when the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office investigated the Mathew case they needed to talk to many citizens as a part of this investigation and now they are moving on with trial preparations.

“It will be a case we’ll see how it proceeds down through with the Prosecutors Office,” said Lutz. “Reaching out to his attorney and talking with that and of course if it goes to trial, you know our involved officers will come in to testify.
The Muskingum County Prosecutors Office will have to set a date with Mathew’s attorney and the prosecutors before moving on.”

Mathew was arraigned in court where he pleaded not guilty. Mathew’s bond is set at $1,000,000.