Restitution determined for ex-county attorney, wife

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

LOUISA — A judge has determined the amount of restitution former Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan and his wife, Joy, must pay as part of their punishment in their federal criminal case.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ordered Michael and Joy Hogan to pay a $366,550 forfeiture money judgment, which represents the amount of money they jointly obtained for diverting delinquent tax funds. The money is to be paid to the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office, according to the judge’s order.

In addition, the former county attorney must also pay $232,127, which represents the proceeds he received for improper billing for child support enforcement, the judge’s order says. Those funds will be paid to child support enforcement, the order says.

The Hogans were sentenced in September 2022 on wire fraud and federal program theft charges.

Michael Hogan was sentenced to serve 42 months incarceration and three years of supervised release.

Joy Hogan was sentenced to serve one year and one day incarceration and three years of supervised release.

According to their plea agreements, the Hogans conspired with each other to commit wire fraud by issuing checks from a second delinquent tax account for the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office, the statements for which went to their personal residence. Michael Hogan and Joy Hogan would routinely prepare “bonus” checks issued to Joy, and signed by Michael, paid with delinquent tax funds that should have been used on operating expenses for the Lawrence County Attorney’s Office. The Hogans deposited these checks in Joy’s personal account and the couple’s joint accounts and spent the funds on personal expenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Michael Hogan admitted he personally benefitted from these payments and knew some of these payments were not reasonable in amount, nor beneficial to the public, court records said.

According to the indictment, between March 8, 2013, and April 30, 2020, Michael Hogan paid Joy Hogan more than $365,000 from the Lawrence County Delinquent Tax Account.

Michael Hogan also admitted to defrauding the Lawrence County Child Support Enforcement Office, part of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. According to his plea agreement, Hogan billed the program for more hours than he actually worked.

As part of his plea agreement, Michael Hogan agreed to resign as the Lawrence County attorney.

The Hogans pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2022.