PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Lisa H. Shoemaker (601) 576-2645 or (601) 613-8518

DATE: July 1, 2011


State Auditor Returns $110,000 to Alcorn County

(Jackson, Miss.) - State Auditor Stacey Pickering presented a check for $110,000 to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors today during a press conference in Corinth. An investigation by the State Auditor’s Office revealed that Danny Crotts, former Supervisor in Alcorn County from 1992 - 2007, misused District 2 road funds and other public funds. These funds were expended by the county between 2002 and 2007 and were for unauthorized purposes, in violation of State law.

“The special agents working on this case did an outstanding job investigating and holding Danny Crotts accountable for his actions,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “The $110,000 restitution presented to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors represents 100 percent recovery of funds plus interest and will make the County and the taxpayers of Alcorn County whole. Our office works diligently on behalf of local governments and state agencies when dealing with bonding companies to ensure that the entity receives the maximum amount in cases where we have determined embezzlement or misuse of funds has occurred.”

Earlier in the week, Auditor Pickering presented a $58,000 check to the City of Burnsville to Mayor Nixon at the Mississippi Municipal League Annual Convention in Biloxi. The $58,000 was restitution to the town for former town clerk Elesha Dailey’s embezzlement of funds. The check was presented during the afternoon session on Tuesday, June 28.





Elected as Mississippi’s State Auditor in 2007, Stacey Pickering has recovered more than $4.2 million in embezzled, misspent or misappropriated funds. He is a seventh generation Mississippian from Jones County. Auditor Pickering currently serves on the Domestic Working Group for the Office of the Comptroller General of the United States. He also serves on the Financial Management and Intergovernmental Affairs and Performance Audit Committees for the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers and is a member of the National State Auditors Association. Prior to serving as State Auditor, Pickering served as a State Senator from 2004-2007 representing Jones County and is credited for co-authorizing legislation allowing Mississippi to end lawsuit abuse. Throughout his political career, Pickering has made tremendous strides in creating more accountability and transparency in government and continues to promote fiscal responsibility and the need for more efficiency and productivity in government. For more information on Stacey Pickering, visit www.osa.state.ms.us/auditors-bio.htm.
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