Sentencing hearing held for ex-county attorney, wife

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

FRANKFORT — A day-long sentencing hearing for former Lawrence County Attorney Michael Hogan and his wife, Joy, was ongoing at press time Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Frankfort.

The hearing for the Hogans was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Frankfort and was continuing at The Big Sandy News’ press time at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Hogan and his wife, who worked as legal secretary in his office, were originally set to be sentenced July 6, on federal wire fraud and theft charges, but Michael Hogan’s lawyer requested a delay because he needed more time to prepare for the sentencing.

Michael Hogan and Joy Hogan pleaded guilty in March to one count of wire fraud and Michael Hogan also pleaded guilty to federal program theft.

In their indictment issued last year, Joy Hogan was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Michael Hogan was charged with nine counts of wire fraud and five counts of program theft.

According to the Hogans’ 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 plea agreements said.

The Hogans deposited the checks into Joy’s personal account and the couple’s joint accounts and spent the funds on personal expenses. Michael Hogan admitted he personally benefitted from the payments and knew some of the payments were not reasonable in amount, nor beneficial to the public the plea agreement said. According to the indictment, between March 8, 2013 and April 30, 2020, Michael Hogan paid his wife 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, the plea agreement said.

According to the plea agreement, Michael Hogan billed the program for more hours than he actually worked