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Water company CEO pleads guilty to wire fraud

Water company CEO pleads guilty to wire fraud
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CINCINNATI -- A local water company CEO pleaded guilty to wire fraud for charging personal expenses to a company credit card for 15 years, the Department of Justice announced.

Frank Divo, 73, devised the scheme in 2000 and continued it until 2015, authorities said in a news release. Divo created false invoices and claimed they were business expenses for the Southwestern Ohio Water Company, but they were really personal charges for him and his family members. 

U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman said Divo would bill items like landscaping at his home to the company. 

Divo agreed to make restitution of $564,072.67 to the company, authorities said. Divo worked there for 40 years.

Wire fraud is punishable by as many as 20 years in prison. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.