JACKSON- Following an annual audit and thorough investigation by State Auditor’s Office, Winnie Hathorne, a former bookkeeper for the Covington County Sheriff’s Department, was indicted for embezzling $77,847.22 from the Department.

Deputies with the Covington County Sheriff’s Department assisted the State Auditor’s Office with the arrest.

Following a routine audit, auditors alerted special agents to discrepancies in the posting of receipts issued by the Sheriff’s Department to the cash journal. The investigation alleges that Hathorne, age 48 of Collins, embezzled $77,847.22 from January 2008 through April 8, 2009 by not depositing cash receipted by the Sheriff’s Department. Special agents also determined that Hathorne owed $7,886.01 in investigative costs and $6,082.58 in interest bringing the total amount sought in recovery by the State Auditor to $91,815.81.

“This case represents nearly $100,000 in alleged embezzled funds by a public employee and is an excellent example of the audit process working effectively to identify theft,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Counties are required to have an annual audit, and our procedures followed during these audits are designed to identify areas of risk for fraud as well as uncover theft if it has occurred.”

Hathorne was an employee of the Covington County Sheriff’s Department from 1978 – 1995 and 2001 through April 8, 2009 when she resigned her position.

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