State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Robin Lowe, former advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, which is a national honor society at the Itawamba Community College.
She has been charged with embezzlement.
Lowe is accused of converting public funds meant to benefit the PTK chapter for her own personal use. Lowe was the advisor for the honor society from 2008 to May of 2023. Lowe was served with a $36,915.30 demand letter at the time of her arrest.
“We are dedicated to making sure all taxpayer dollars — but especially dollars meant to benefit students — are spent appropriately and not stolen,” said State Auditor Shad White.
Lowe faces up to 20 years and $5,000 in fines if convicted. All persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
An insurance policy covers Lowe’s employment at Itawamba Community College. Lowe will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal proceedings.
Two former Coahoma Community College employees were sentenced to five years in prison in February 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy and embezzlement. Those women saw Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy and Coahoama Community College President Coahoma Community College Board of Trustee Chairman Rev. Dennis Hawkins testify as character witnesses and urge leniency by the court
Former employees Gwendolyn Jefferson and Stacie Neal were arrested in June 2019 after authorities say they made over $750,000 in personal purchases with Coahoma Community College credit cards and checks. The purchases were for shoes, furniture, gift cards and even a chandelier.
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.
