https://www.wsaz.com/2025/02/14/couple-indicted-several-charges-after-hundreds-thousands-bribes-made-through-shell-company/

The head of the Southern Ohio Port Authority and his wife were indicted Friday on several charges, including money laundering, fraud and bribery, after hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes were allegedly made through a shell company.

The Ohio State Auditor’s Office released that information about Robert P. Horton, who also heads the Scioto County Economic Development Department, and his wife Lioubov E. Horton.

Investigators say the couple received bribes in return for awarding public contracts to the Southern Ohio Port Authority.

Both suspects were indicted by a grand jury in Scioto County.

Robert Horton faces 15 criminal counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, theft in office, telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, money laundering, tampering with public records, tampering with evidence, bribery, having an unlawful interest in a public contract, and falsification.

Lioubov E. Horton faces 12 criminal counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, theft in office, telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, money laundering, tampering with evidence, and having an unlawful interest in a public contract.

According to the news release, “the indictment was filed Friday afternoon in Scioto County Common Pleas Court. Attorneys from the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) were appointed by the Scioto County Prosecutor to serve as special prosecutor in the case.

“SIU launched its investigation after receiving a complaint alleging a potential unlawful interest in a public contract between the Southern Ohio Port Authority and an out-of-state company for a building at the Southern Ohio Aeronautical Regional Business Park, adjacent to the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport.”

Investigators with SIU “determined hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes were made to Robert Horton through a shell company owned by his wife.”