Miller is suing Olson and his life partner, as described in court records, Jeffrey Card, accusing them of “misappropriating at least $150,000” the past two years and using it on “property, automobiles, horses, vacations, equipment and other goods, insurance policies, and investment vehicles.”
“...Olson is not expected to argue that he did not do it; only that he did not steal that(sic) much,” according to a Aug. 20 filing in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
Olson, 41, and Card, 49, deny the allegations, said Olson’s lawyer, Casey R. Daganhardt.
Law enforcement authorities and Miller lawyer David M. Duwel also disclosed Tuesday, Aug. 24, that there is a criminal investigation against Olson and Card involving the Miami Twp.-based company and an unnamed area nonprofit.
Since 1997, Olson had served as program director for Miamisburg’s Winter Guard. After he was fired from Miller, the school board decided not to renew Olson’s $10,644 supplemental contract for the upcoming year.
“To the best of our knowledge, there’s no public funds, no school district monies involved,” said Miamisburg Superintendent Greg Whitehead.
“He’s taking care of his personal issues. It was in the best interest of the district, as well as Mr. Olson, that he not be involved with the winter guard this year.”
Olson was also part of the Miamisburg Visual Ensemble Booster Association, the winter guard’s nonprofit fundraising body.
Booster representatives declined comment. They held an emergency parents’ meeting Tuesday night.
Maj. John DiPietro, Miami Twp. deputy police chief, declined to give details of their investigation. “We are aware of several cases of embezzlement” involving “community organizations ... and we’re looking into it.”
Lavish lifestyle
In May, Miller officials first discovered “Olson’s misappropriation of corporate funds,” leading to the discovery of more than $150,000 they claim was stolen since 2008, court records said.
On May 27, company officials confronted Olson and placed him on unpaid leave before he was fired.
After filing a civil lawsuit, the company accused the pair of using its stolen money to travel to Las Vegas for “personal/social reasons.”
Fearing they were “in no rush to resolve” the lawsuit, Miami Twp. police on July 19, “recovered significant financial records” from Olson’s home, 720 W. Dorothy Lane. The house is valued at $354,890, according to the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office.
In the lawsuit, Olson, who earned more than $500,000 from Miller, faces eight counts, including defamation. Miller disputes Olson’s “published” claims the company’s “financial condition” caused him to lose his job, “while failing to acknowledge that his unlawful practices and conduct were the cause.”
Card, a licensed managing cosmetologist, faces six counts. Miller claims Olson paid Card more than $10,000 for “unperformed work or services.” Duwel said the Miller family, who runs the company, declined comment.
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