State Auditor Shad White’s office returned over $1.3 million back to Mississippi taxpayers last month in stolen or misused funds.
Auditors from the state routinely check and double check the files and funds of both city and county government and are often tipped off by employees of government about abuses and possible theft and fraud.
Significant amounts were returned in cases involving several town officials in Pelahatchie ($543,038.04); the mayor of Aberdeen, Maurice Howard ($11,649.34); the former Chancery Clerk of Humphreys County, Lawrence Browder ($92,521.94); the former town clerk of Raleigh, Helen Bounds $48,339.25); and the commissioners of the Town Creek Master Water Management Board (298,050.83)
“Since coming into office in July 2018, the Auditor’s office has identified over $5 million in stolen or misspent public money and has now recovered and returned over $4 million back to the taxpayers where it belongs,” said White. “February was our most successful month yet for returning money to the public during my tenure, and I look forward to more months like this in the future.”
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. When the Auditor’s office successfully concludes cases and money is recovered, that money is returned to the government office from which the money was originally taken.
