Former Harrison County Assistant Tax Collector Sentenced for Committing Fraud

February 27, 2020

JACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Harrison County Assistant Tax Collector Denise Gill has been sentenced in Judge Lisa Dodson’s chamber of circuit court after she was convicted for fraud last month. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Joel Smith.

Gill was sentenced to be under the supervision of the department of corrections for 5 years. She will spend 2 years under the intensive supervision house arrest program and 3 more years on probation. Judge Dodson also fined Gill $3,000 in addition to requiring her to repay Harrison County for the money she fraudulently obtained and the Auditor’s office for investigative expenses.

Separate from the investigation into her criminal acts, auditors determined her salary had been more than statutorily allowed during both 2016 and 2017, so the total amount of the demand issued to her was nearly $20,000.

The Auditor’s office is currently working with a surety bond company to recover and return to Harrison County the full amount of the demand issued to Gill.

“Auditors on my team enjoyed working with local law enforcement officials and District Attorney Joel Smith, and we’re glad to see this case come to a successful close,” said State Auditor White. 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.