Former Lawrence County Tax Collector Clerk Guilty of Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Deputy Clerk of the Lawrence County Tax Collector’s Office Hollie Summers pled guilty to embezzlement. Summers was arrested by agents in November of 2023.
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Former Ellisville Deputy City Clerk Guilty of Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Ellisville Deputy City Clerk Emerald Wuertz has pled guilty to Embezzlement. Wuertz was arrested by agents in September of 2023 and served with a $41,246.20 demand letter.
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Three Arrested in Mississippi for Their Involvement in an Organized Fraud Enterprise

JACKSON, Miss. – Yesterday State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Christy Gomez, Larry Hodge, and Michael Norman for their involvement in an organized fraud enterprise. Gomez is accused of conducting or managing a fraud enterprise, in which she, Hodge, and Norman are alleged to have fraudulently received proceeds between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, from the Rental Assistance for Mississippians Program (RAMP) at the Mississippi Home Corporation and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Gomez was served with a $108,851.33 demand letter at the time of her arrest. Larry Hodge was served with a $26,565.70 demand letter at the time of his arrest.
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U.S. House Ways and Means Offers Federal TANF Reform Package After Mississippi Scandal

JACKSON, Miss. – Federal lawmakers and leaders of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee last week introduced seven new pieces of legislation in Congress to reform Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF, or more commonly “welfare”).
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Former Holmes County Water and Soil Conservation District Secretary Guilty of Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced former District Secretary for the Holmes County Water and Soil Conservation District Melissa Upchurch has pled guilty to Embezzlement. Upchurch was arrested by agents in June 2023 and was served with a $48,160.08 demand letter.
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Mississippi School Administrative Spending Continues to Climb

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi continues to prioritize spending on administration over spending inside the classroom according to a new report released today by State Auditor Shad White.
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Former Mayor of Beulah Arrested for Three Counts of Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Bertha Thomas, the former Mayor of Beulah, on three counts of embezzlement. Thomas is accused of embezzling tax disbursements issued to the town by the Bolivar County Tax Collector. She was served with a $12,573.42 demand letter at the time of her arrest.
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State Auditor Shad White’s Comments on Conviction of Jeffery O’Neal

“My office has recovered more misspent money for the taxpayers in the last five years than in any other five-year period, and the credit goes to investigators and prosecutors for closing out cases like this.”
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City of Bolton Town Clerk Arrested for Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Shelia Williams for embezzlement. Williams is accused of embezzling cash payments from the City of Bolton’s water department. She was served with a $35,882.59 demand letter at the time of her arrest.
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Former Itawamba Community College Honor Society Advisor Arrested for Embezzlement

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Robin Lowe. Lowe was the former advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, which is a national honor society at the Itawamba Community College. She is charged with embezzlement.
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