News
Former Athens County Assistant Prosecutor Indicted
By: Jacob Solether
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ATHENS — A federal grand jury has charged Michael “Mickey” A. Prisley, of Columbus, with eight charges connected to tax fraud and theft of government money. Prisley is the former assistant prosecutor in Athens County.
The indictment alleges that Prisley, Tawnya Writesel, and others, conspired to submit false claims for income tax refunds.
Prisley allegedly deposited illegally-obtained tax refund checks into his bank account and then withdrew cash to pay his “co-conspirators” their share. Prisley received drugs and controlled substances in a trade-off for cashing the refund checks, according to the release.
It is also alleged that Prisley supplied others with power of attorney forms so his co-conspirators could also cash checks.
Prisley worked for the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office during two different terms – most recently from 2011 to 2014. Athens County Prosecuting Attorney Keller Blackburn said Prisley was placed on administrative leave and terminated for reasons unrelated to these charges.
Prisley went into private practice after his termination in 2014, most recently working for Eric Brehm and Associates in Columbus.