Riverside City Manager James Onello has been placed on leave after he admitted to the City Council that he used city credit cards to cover more than $1,100 in expenses at a strip club.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s detectives began investigating the case last month after city officials discovered credit card receipts from 3830 Inc., which is the name appearing on credit card receipts for the Living Room strip club, according to the DaytonDaily News.
The Council placed Onello on unpaid leave and terminated his $89,000 annual salary and benefits during their meeting Tuesday night.
Onello used purchase requisitions that showed the expenses were for meetings with local public officials and other business people in an effort to cover the expenses.
The county prosecutor is still reviewing the case and no charges have been filed, authorities said.
Onello told police that he was responsible for the expenses and admitted that meetings did not take place at the club, nor were people he originally claimed were with him for those meetings were in fact not there at all.
Riverside Mayor Kne Curp said Onello made a check out to the city for the $1,100 bill, but said the city must still pay $30,000 for a state audit to determine the full extent of Onello’s charges.
The check was turned over to the sheriff’s office.
Onello told the council that he was overwhelmed by his office, resulting in “an incredible lapse of judgment.”
