City of West Carrollton officials cited the sealed search warrant used to raid Rauch’s businesses Tuesday as a reason for denying a public records request for a list of entities permitted to dump material on a city-owned property.
The property, at 4000 Hydraulic Road, is planned to house a park. And several companies were given permission to dump "clean" fill material there to raise the land. But city officials found improper materials dumped there, and called in state investigators as it was discovered that the amount of improperly dumped material totaled more than 30 tons.
We are still working to obtain records from the city on what sort of work was permitted on the site.
2. Why is the U.S. Secret Service involved?
State and local law enforcement agencies on Tuesday referred all questions to the U.S. Secret Service, which had agents at Rauch's business.
The Secret Service enforces counterfeiting laws, safeguards the payment and financial systems of the United States from financial and computer-based crimes, and provides analysis related to polygraph exams, fingerprints, false identification documents, credit cards and other related forensic science areas, according to its website.
We are working to confirm whether the Secret Service is leading the investigation, or only lending assistance to other agencies.
3. What was in the search warrants?
The search warrants that authorized Tuesday’s raid were filed under seal from a judge. We are working to determine when these warrants may become unsealed, and whether they provide clues to the nature of the investigation.
4. What does Rauch know?
Rauch spoke with reporters this morning, and says he was at a job site out of town Tuesday and still has no idea what investigators were after. He said they haven’t provided him with anything or even asked any questions.
“They never left any paperwork or anything. They came in, got what they wanted and left,” he said.
“The only thing I can tell you is that they’re looking for information but I don’t know what kind of information they’re looking for.”
5. What happens next?
Rauch's impact on the community is massive. In addition to private sector work, his business does millions of dollars in government contracts, including demolition work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and for the city of Dayton. He personally is a major political and charitable donor, including a recent $1.5 million donation to Kettering Medical Center.
We are speaking to people involved in the investigation and across the region to determine how long this investigation may take, and what impact it may have on not just Rauch, but the community.
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If you have a tip for the I-Team call reporter Josh Sweigart at 937-328-0374 or email josh.sweigart@coxinc.com
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