By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - The federal government has taken the first steps toward seizing property owned or purchased by Ron Epling, the former city of Florence finance director accused of embezzlement. Mr. Epling is jailed on 18 counts of stealing more than $1 million from the city.

U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman has issued a temporary restraining order that prevents Mr. Epling or "those persons in active concert or participation with him, and those persons or entities who have any interest or control over the property" from attempting to sell, damage or in any way diminish the value of the properties.

The restraining order, which expires after 10 days, is a precursor to the government moving to seize the property that Mr. Epling allegedly purchased or invested in with stolen money.

"Ronald Epling is currently the subject of a federal investigation concerning violations" of theft, the order states. "The United States anticipates filing a civil forfeiture action."

The cited properties are:

A $688,000 home in the Triple Crown development in Boone County occupied by Billie Kay Epling, Mr. Epling's estranged wife. Federal investigators believe Mr. Epling may have used as much as $300,000 in stolen money for the home.

A $200,000 home in Delhi Township that Mr. Epling allegedly purchased for his girlfriend, Cheryl Hatter.

All personal property and real estate owned by Mr. Epling, which would include a $180,000 Triple Crown condo he and his wife previously lived in.

"The need to preserve the availability of the property ... outweighs the hardship on any party," the order states.

The order was requested by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Olinger of Lexington, who did not return a phone call Monday.

Florence defense lawyer Burr Travis, who is representing Mr. Epling, received the order Monday. Judge Bertelsman signed it Friday.

Mr. Travis said he is still reviewing the order and had no comment on how he will answer it. He did say that because the restraining order expires after 10 days, a federal court hearing would then have to be held on a permanent restraining order.

The order is the first move by the federal government to seize the property, which could then be sold and possibly allow the city of Florence to recover some of the stolen money, Mr. Travis said.

"That's what's going on here, the federal government is going to come after these and other properties," Mr. Travis said late Monday afternoon.

Florence is also working through its lawyers to try to recover some of the stolen money from the city's insurance carriers who held fidelity bonds on Mr. Epling during his employment.

Mr. Epling is being held in jail under a $1 million bond. He could face up to 20 years in prison.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com