Jackson, MS—The Mayor of the City of Terry has been arrested on charges he embezzled from the City, announced State Auditor Stacey Pickering and Attorney General Jim Hood jointly today.

Roderick Nicholson was arrested today by special agents from the Auditor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division following indictment by a Rankin County Grand Jury on five counts of embezzlement. The indictment alleges that Nicholson used the city’s credit card to pay for repairs totaling over $2,700 on two personal vehicles. The work was allegedly done on five separate occasions at dealerships in Brandon and Flowood. The total exceptions, both civil and criminal, demanded to be returned to the State of Mississippi in this case are $56,966.27.

“As an elected official, the public places a vote of confidence in you to always do what is best for those whom you represent,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “ It is truly unfortunate when that trust is broken for personal gain.”

“The law does not discriminate, even when it comes to a public official,” said Attorney General Hood. “Our residents deserve honesty and integrity in their representatives, and it’s a sad day when that trust is violated.”

Nicholson was booked into the Rankin County Detention Center. If convicted, Nicholson faces up to 20 years behind bars. As with all cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Auditor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Public Integrity Division. The case will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Marvin Sanders.

Unrelated to today’s arrest, the auditor’s office has been investigating the use of the Town of Terry car by the mayor. Agents this morning confiscated the car at the mayor’s personal work site.

###

Contact:

Will Craft
Special Projects
Office of State Auditor Stacey Pickering
Will.Craft@osa.ms.gov
601-576-2623

Jan Schaefer
Public Information Officer
Office of Attorney General Jim Hood
jscha@ago.state.ms.us
601-359-2002