JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Shellie Dickens (aka Shellie Martin), former administrative assistant for the Stone County Utility Authority, after she was indicted for embezzlement by a grand jury assembled by District Attorney for the Mississippi 2^nd District Joel Smith. At the time of her arrest, Dickens was issued a $13,492.12 demand letter which accounts for investigative costs and interest.

Dickens is accused of embezzling over $6,000 from December 2016 to May 2017 by taking cash from individuals who were paying their utility bills. She attempted to conceal her alleged embezzlement by manipulating computer records. When accounting inconsistencies were noticed, office management contacted the Auditor’s office.

“This is the second case in two months that the Auditor’s office has concluded involving embezzlement from a utility office. Water and sewer customers around the state deserve better. I encourage anyone who has a tip regarding illegal activity in these kinds of offices to come forward to my office now.”

A $50,000 surety bond covered Dickens’ employment at Stone County Utility Authority. A surety bond is similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from embezzlement and corruption. Dickens will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal charges.

If convicted, Dickens faces up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 in fines. All persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case will be prosecuted by the office of District Attorney Smith.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275.