Kentucky prosecutor, wife, stole nearly $600,000 from county attorney’s office

michael-hogan-ap
michael-hogan-ap

A former eastern Kentucky prosecutor and his wife, who are serving time in federal prison, were found to have stolen nearly $600,000 from the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office.

The former County Attorney for Lawrence County, Michael T. Hogan, 54, and his wife and legal secretary, Joy M. Hogan, 42, were recently sentenced to 42 months and 12 months plus one day respectively, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

The total amount the two misappropriated from the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office was undetermined at the time of the couple’s sentencing. According to a report by the Lexington Herald-Leader, prosecutors now say the couple stole $598,677.

Michael and Joy Hogan are together responsible for $366,550 while Michael Hogan is responsible for an additional $232,127.

According to the Hogans’ plea agreements, they conspired with each other to commit wire fraud by issuing checks from a second delinquent tax account for the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office. Between March 8, 2013, and April 30, 2020, Michael Hogan paid Joy Hogan bonuses of more than $366,000 from the Lawrence County Delinquent Tax Account. The monthly statements were mailed to the Hogans’ residence.

The Hogans would routinely prepare “bonus” checks issued to Joy Hogan, and signed by her husband, that should have been used on operating expenses for the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office, prosecutors said.

Michael Hogan, who served five terms as Lawrence Co. Attorney, admitted he personally benefited from these payments and knew some of the payments were not reasonable in amount, nor beneficial to the public.

Additionally, Michael Hogan admitted to defrauding the Lawrence County Child Support Enforcement Office, part of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. According to the plea agreement, Hogan billed the program for more hours than he actually worked, resulting in him being responsible for stealing $232,127.

The Hogans were indicted on the charges in June 2021 and pled guilty in March 2022.

(Photo: Michael T. Hogan, courtesy of the Associated Press)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com