Orville Hodge
Encyclopedia
Orville Enoch Hodge was the Auditor of Public Accounts (predecessor to the office of Comptroller) of the state of Illinois
from 1952 to 1956. During his term of office, he embezzled $6.15 million of state funds, mainly by altering and forging cheque
s that were paid on the state's account.
Hodge was born in Anderson, Indiana
, and raised in Granite City, Illinois
, from the age of four; he and his family owned land and businesses in the area. In 1946, he married Margaret Coudy of Granite City with whom he had one son. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
, where he served three terms. He was elected Auditor in 1952.
His scheme started in 1954, when he forged accounting records
to create a false paper trail
to convince the Illinois General Assembly
that his office was insolvent. The legislature obediently handed his office a $525,000 emergency appropriation, which Hodge kept for himself. Further thefts followed; with the money, Hodge purchased two private jets, 30 automobiles (including four Cadillac
s and a Rolls-Royce
imported from Britain), and multiple properties in Florida and Illinois.
The embezzlement
scheme was cracked by the Chicago Daily News
, whose reporting team was awarded a 1957 Pulitzer Prize
for their investigation. Upon indictment, Hodge pleaded guilty to 54 bank fraud, embezzlement and forgery charges and was sentenced to a 12 to 15 year prison
term. He was released in 1970 and went to work at his sister's hardware store in Granite City until his death at the age of 82 in Edwardsville, Illinois
.
The Hodge scandal played a role in the decision by Illinois lawmakers to abolish the office of the State Auditor in the new state constitution of 1970. The office was replaced by the new office of the Comptroller.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
from 1952 to 1956. During his term of office, he embezzled $6.15 million of state funds, mainly by altering and forging cheque
Cheque
A cheque is a document/instrument See the negotiable cow—itself a fictional story—for discussions of cheques written on unusual surfaces. that orders a payment of money from a bank account...
s that were paid on the state's account.
Hodge was born in Anderson, Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
, and raised in Granite City, Illinois
Granite City, Illinois
Granite City is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. At the 2010 census, the population was 29,849, making it the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois, behind Alton and Belleville...
, from the age of four; he and his family owned land and businesses in the area. In 1946, he married Margaret Coudy of Granite City with whom he had one son. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
, where he served three terms. He was elected Auditor in 1952.
His scheme started in 1954, when he forged accounting records
Accounting records
Accounting records are all sources of information and evidence that are used in preparing, verifying and or auditing financial statements. Accounting records also includes documentation to prove ownership of assets creation of liabilities and evidence of monetary and non monetary...
to create a false paper trail
Paper Trail
Paper Trail is the sixth studio album by American hip hop artist T.I., released September 30, 2008 on Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. He began to write songs for the album as he awaited trial for federal weapons and possession charges...
to convince the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
that his office was insolvent. The legislature obediently handed his office a $525,000 emergency appropriation, which Hodge kept for himself. Further thefts followed; with the money, Hodge purchased two private jets, 30 automobiles (including four Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
s and a Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
imported from Britain), and multiple properties in Florida and Illinois.
The embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
scheme was cracked by the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, whose reporting team was awarded a 1957 Pulitzer Prize
1957 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism awards:*Public Service:**the Chicago Daily News, for determined and courageous public service in exposing a $2,500,000 fraud centering in the office of the State Auditor of Illinois, resulting in the indictment and conviction of the State Auditor and others...
for their investigation. Upon indictment, Hodge pleaded guilty to 54 bank fraud, embezzlement and forgery charges and was sentenced to a 12 to 15 year prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
term. He was released in 1970 and went to work at his sister's hardware store in Granite City until his death at the age of 82 in Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
.
The Hodge scandal played a role in the decision by Illinois lawmakers to abolish the office of the State Auditor in the new state constitution of 1970. The office was replaced by the new office of the Comptroller.