Charges filed against former Columbus Township trustee accused of spending $1.1 million on township credit card for personal expenses

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Formal charges have been filed against a former Columbus Township trustee accused of using the township’s credit card for more than $1 million in personal purchases.

The Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday that Benjamin Jackson has been formally charged with nine counts of theft and nine counts of official misconduct.

According to previous reports, the state launched an investigation last year after an anonymous source claimed Jackson had charged $1.12 million on the township credit card for personal expenses between Dec. 14, 2016, and Nov. 22, 2024.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts released a special investigations report on May 21, revealing that an anonymous source contacted the state on Oct. 15, 2024, accusing Jackson of misusing the township’s credit card for personal expenses.

Jackson served as the Columbus Township trustee from July 1, 2013, until he resigned on Nov. 22, 2024, amid an investigation led by the SBOA and the Indiana State Police. The source accused Jackson of using the township credit card to purchase first-class airline tickets for himself and his wife on several occasions.

As part of their investigation, the SBOA obtained credit card statements outlining purchases Jackson made between 2017 and 2024. The report also detailed a significant growth in the total credit card expenditures during Jackson’s tenure as trustee.

Upon further review of the township credit card statements, the SBOA determined that $1,283,772.04 was spent for purchases made on a township credit card that was issued to Jackson. These purchases included cannabis, international trips, home improvement projects, his kids’ college tuition fees and much more.

“Based on this review, the SBOA determined $1,123,334.27 as personal expenses (88%), $121,093.58 as Township business expenses (9%), and $39,344.19 as questionable expenses (3%),” the SBOA report said.

A complete breakdown of the personal expenses for which Jackson allegedly used the township credit card can be viewed here.

The SBOA report highlighted how a lack of internal controls contributed to the issues, as no other employees were reviewing Jackson’s credit card purchases. The monthly expenses were routinely approved by the Township Board of Trustees, which did not do a line-item review of the spending or ask Jackson to verify his costs.

The state previously indicated that it is requesting that Jackson pay the full amount for his alleged unauthorized personal use of the township credit card and the special investigation costs.

BCPO confirmed that an out-of-county Special Judge will be assigned to the case after Judge Kelly Benjamin in Bartholomew County Circuit Court recused herself.