In Butler County, Ohio, a volunteer treasurer for the Animal Friends Humane Society was sentenced to prison on Monday and ordered to pay restitution. Jeremy Bruce Taylor, 48, pleaded guilty in June to the third degree felony of aggravated theft.
According to the Journal News, Taylor was sentenced to the maximum of 36 months in prison by Butler County Common Please Judge Greg Stephens. Before sentencing, Taylor cried and apologized.
From June 2014 to March 2021, Taylor, a CPA, diverted cash from the shelter which saves homeless and abused animals, to pay for his own credit cards and make personal purchases. The amount added up to $730,984.19, according to Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Garrett Baker. Taylor pleaded guilty after he was caught. Prosecutors stated Taylor had been stealing more than a $100,000 a year from the shelter, and that was in addition to having a job that paid more than $100,000 a year.
People gave money to a cause to help creatures that could not help themselves – you literally took that money from them.
Judge Stephens
Taylor’s attorney told the judge that his client had been going through personal financial hardships including the possible foreclosure of his home. Meanwhile, prosecutors told the judge Taylor had used his credit card for vacations and concerts, paying his cell phone and other purchases for his farm.
Volunteers, supporters and employees of the shelter urged the judge to give Taylor the maximum sentence stating he knew that sick and homeless animals needed the funds.
In June, the Animal Friends Humane Society posted a statement about Taylor:
In the last few months, AFHS discovered that Jeremy Taylor, who was a member of our board and our treasurer for more than 20 years, had exploited the trust we placed in him and used his training as a CPA and knowledge of our financial processes to steal from this organization. The board found the theft on its own and has been working with the Butler County authorities to prosecute this theft and abuse of trust.
At this time, Taylor is in the process of selling his home to make further restitution over the $35,000 he has raised so far.
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