It came as news to James Schwartz Sr. that he was U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's campaign treasurer.

Schwartz Sr., a jeweler in Bridgetown, released a statement Monday saying he's never been treasurer of Chabot's campaign.

This despite the Federal Election Commission listing him as treasurer since 2011.

"I am not, nor have I ever been, the treasurer of the Steve Chabot for Congress campaign," Schwartz Sr. said in the statement. "I have never served the campaign in any official capacity."

Chabot's campaign finances have come under scrutiny after Chabot's campaign attorney last week announced money had been misappropriated and that the Republican congressman from Westwood was the victim of a "financial crime."

The investigation into the missing money is believed to focus on Schwartz Sr.'s son, Jamie Schwartz. Jamie Schwartz is Chabot's longtime advisor and campaign manager.

Jamie Schwartz has not been able to be reached for comment.

Located at his jewelry shop, his father told The Enquirer last week he has no idea why he was listed as treasurer and declined further comment.

In the statement, Schwartz Sr. said he was only recently made aware of his name being used for Chabot's campaign.

Yet the FEC has sent letters addressed to him and mailed to Chabot's office on Harrison Avenue from 2013 to 2018. The most recent letter, sent Aug. 27, was addressed to Jim Schwartz at his son's political consulting firm, Fountain Square Group.

The FEC, in the Aug. 27 letter, questioned the math on the campaign's reports.

The FEC official wanted to know why there was an increase in receipts of $123,625.72 in the amended report for the first quarter of 2019.

The letter asked Schwartz to clarify why the money was not disclosed in the original report.

Chabot's campaign attorney, Mark Braden, sent a statement Monday saying they thought Schwartz Sr. was the treasurer and his son managed the compliance work.

“As far as the campaign was aware, James Schwartz, Sr. has been the treasurer since 2011 and Jamie Schwartz managed the compliance work with his review and approval," Braden said. "We are reaching out to the FEC to clarify this issue.”

Schwartz Sr. told The Enquirer last week he didn't know where his son is, other than he's no longer with Chabot's campaign.

"He's no longer doing that, so he's doing a lot of running around right now," Schwartz Sr. said. "I couldn't tell you where he's at."

No one has been charged with any crime. Calls to the U.S. Attorney's office in Cincinnati have not been returned.