State Auditor Arrests and Issues Demand Against Former Gunnison Town Clerk

August 25, 2015

Jackson, Miss –State Auditor Special Agents arrested former Town Clerk of Gunnison, Marquita Payne. Payne was also served with a demand today totaling $70, 392.66.

Based upon the evidence developed in this investigation, Payne embezzled funds from the town of Gunnison from January 2012 through December 2013. She accomplished this by not depositing funds she collected on behalf of the town of Gunnison.

“Our office is responding to public corruption all across our state,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “In the fight to create more transparency and accountability here in Mississippi, we will leave no stone unturned.”

Payne served as the Clerk for Gunnison from February 2012 to February 2014. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy Town Clerk for Gunnison from February 2011 to February 2012.