State Auditor Shad White announced Friday that Clarksdale resident Shoral Bounds has pleaded guilty to embezzlement.
Bounds, a former lead cashier for Clarksdale Public Utilities, was indicted and arrested for embezzlement in June of 2022. The guilty plea was recorded today in Judge Hunter Nowell’s courtroom.
Bounds embezzled customer utility payments and manipulated the computer system to show that her daily collections were less than she collected. Bounds was ordered to pay $115,981.33 in restitution and other court fees.
“Thank you to the dedicated investigators who worked this matter for our office,” said Auditor White. “We will continue to send the message that there will be zero tolerance for theft of public funds in Mississippi.”
Bounds is now a convicted felon and this offense means she will never be able to handle public money again.
Judge Nowell’s sentencing order that defines the length of her incarceration and probation, if any, will be filed with the Coahoma Circuit Clerk’s office for public inspection.
A $50,000 surety bond covers Bounds’ employment at the Clarksdale Public Utilities. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption. Bounds will remain liable for the total amount of the demand in addition to the court costs of the criminal proceedings.
White said June 7, 2022 that special agents from his office had arrested Bounds after she was indicted by a Coahoma County Grand Jury on charges of embezzlement. A $182,771.97 demand letter was presented to Bounds upon arrest. The demand letter included interest and investigative expenses.
Bounds faced up to 20 years in prison. While the local District Attorney Brenda Mitchell typically handles cases in Coahoma County the Office of Attorney General Lynn Fitch prosecuted this case.
In a similar case in Coahoma County Circuit Court in February, Maple Melton saw embezzlement charges against her dropped by the State Attorney General’s Office.
On Dec. 8, 2015, former CPU Office Manager Melton was indicted on nine counts of embezzlement.
A formal demand was issued on Dec. 14, 2015. On March 17, 2017, this case was transmitted to the Office of the Attorney General.
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.
