Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Homeland Security Deputy Director indicted

A Hinds County grand jury indicted Byron Thompson of one count of embezzlement on December 8, 2011. Mr. Thompson is the Deputy Director for the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security. He is free on $5,000 bond.

The indictment charges Mr. Thompson with using a state-owner car and a fuelman card for his own personal use. The complaint was filed after State Auditor Stacy Pickering made a demand of $6,565 on the defendant in 2010 to repay the money. Mr. Pickering issued a press release concerning the matter in August 2010:

The State Auditor’s Office has issued a demand against DPS official Byron Thompson in the amount of $6,565.71 to the State of Mississippi following an investigation by the State Auditor’s Office into his personal use of a state-owned vehicle. Thompson, Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Mississippi Homeland Security, used a state vehicle for personal use between August 2009– May 2010.

“State owned vehicles are to be used for official state business and not personal use,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Personal use is different than traveling in a state car to a meeting, convention or to the office. Special agents analyzed this individual’s time sheets, fuel purchase reports and schedules to determine when he was officially ‘on the clock’ and when it was obvious he was using his state-owned vehicle for personal use that is clearly a violation of State Law.”

Mississippi Code Section 25-1-79 clearly prohibits personal use in a state-owned vehicle for any purpose other than the official business of the State of Mississippi. Personal use is not to be confused with allowable uses of state-owned vehicles as outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration’s Fleet Manual. Personal travel, such as vacations, out of town trips while off duty, transportation of family members, etc., is prohibited
.



20 comments:

Anonymous said...

So can we be looking for a future indictment on Robert Graham? Has he repaid the demand issued to him? Also, hoping all of those new HCSO officials that don't even live in Hinds County take notice. We will be watching.

Anonymous said...

fyi, a lot of big Mac's staff didn't live in Hinds County either - nobody seemed to care then.

Anonymous said...

Difficult to understand why anyone would risk an arrest and imprisonment for $5000.00 or for any any amount of money. This is your life, folks! You only get 1 shot at it. If you mess up like Mr. Thompson or Terry Lynn Watkins (Lincoln Co. Circuit Clerk) then be prepared to lose your good name and your freedom. Then again, you just may receive a pardon for your crimes.

Anonymous said...

Glad 2 c we have an active state auditor...phil charged over 200 public officials as auditor!

Anonymous said...

7:55 Its a New Day and a New Thought with "Yo Sheriff"

Anonymous said...

There is no stipulation saying you have tp live in Hinds county to work for the SO.

Anonymous said...

Hey! Hey! Hey! When all of those City of Jackson workers got caught STEALING gas using city issued "fuelman" credit cards NOTHING was done to those bottomfeeders..heck, one of them had actually used his "fuleman" card like 12 times in one day! He bought his gas, his momma's gas, his auntie's gas, his uncle's gas, his BFF's gas...

Anonymous said...

He was probably charging them half price for the gas he was stealing with his fuelman card. So, he was stealing and selling stolen goods.

Anonymous said...

Sure nothing says you have to live in the county to work at the SO. But why in the world would "Yo Sheriff" want to give the tax money to people who dont even feel like the county is worth residing in and dont contribute to its tax base. Simple govt and economic lesson. (Not sure Yo Sheriff had any of those) There are laws about where county equipment can go though. Park those county cars at the Hinds/Madison line. If Im not mistaken one of the things he promised the voters is those county boys would not be using county vehicles to work extra details.

Anonymous said...

"Pursuant to Section 25-1-91 of the Code, if any person shall knowingly and willfully
violate any of the provisions of Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-93, such person shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than two hundred fifty dollars and, in addition, shall be removed from the office
or position which he holds."
So why was in still employed when this happened well over a year ago. Also what about Bill Maxey who was Fleet Director at DPS. He was found to be doing the exact same thing. Also Stacy Pickering also was reported on the the C-L as doing the exact same thing. I guess this is selective prosecution at its worst.

Anonymous said...

Most of the people who have vehicles at DPS misuse them. They are not marketed so they can take all those SUVs and Trucks to deer camps and bars without being noticed.

Anonymous said...

State Auditor used a state vehicle to travel from his home in Laurel to his office in Jackson. He also used a fuelman card to fill up. He should be held accountable for his actions also. Jim Hood needs to do his job and investigate the Auditor!

Anonymous said...

Who do I report to when I see MDOT employee inside Wallmart buying personal items while the State car is left running outside being driven home. This would be a scale employee double dipper who is retired from the MHP. A insider's insider.

Anonymous said...

Any one that is given and a company or government car to use gets some personal value from that car and that is supposed to reported as income on their W-2 form. Does state and local government do that as required by the irs?

Anonymous said...

Yes they should be reported on the w-2s but rarely are. My favorite from last year was the MBI guy who had his truck stolen while shopping at Home Depot on a friday afternoon. I never heard it was being looked into for personal use. This is common at the State, Hank Bounds used to take his state vehicle home while making $300K a year, he could certainly afford his own ride but they feel entitled. State Vehicles should be marked with the agency name on the sides and back but a number are not marked to hide the fact that it is a state vehicle. Stacy Pickering said his is unmarked because of a specific threat he got, yeah right its so he can drive it to family functions without notice.

Anonymous said...

OK then, all who have thrown stones at Mr. Thompson - who is paying you to comment on this story at 8:56 a.m., 9:21 a.m.; 3:09 p.m.; 3:37 p.m.; 4:39 p.m.; 8:21 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. rather than doing the work your employer is paying you to do? While what he did was wrong, are you completely innocent?

Who paid you while you did your Cyber Monday shopping (at work), chatted with your friends on Facebook (at work), watched the bids on that Elvis painting on Ebay(at work) and spent hours spreading rumors and gossiping (with your co-workers, AT WORK)? I could go on and on (but I won't). I bet if you added it all up, it would far exceed the demand placed on Mr. Thompson.

Cumulatively, millions of dollars are lost in the economy every day because people abuse their employers' payroll by not doing what they're paid to do. Judge not, lest ye be judged...

Anonymous said...

Hey Byron. You just now finding the site huh? Welcome.

Anonymous said...

This case was nolle prosequei last week - I guess the judge saw through the political BS and recognized that the auditor's office can't seem to get its ducks in a row. (They should probably read their own demand letters before they pursue criminal charges.)

The question is... Do you have enough chutzpah to publicize this turn of events as vigorously as you did the original story - I suppose we'll all know the answer if we don't see the document posted here in a reasonable period of time...say tomorrow or Tuesday.

Time to stand up and tell both sides of the story counselor.

Kingfish said...

Sure. Thanks for the heads up. Ill check Circuit Clerks office.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you start your own blog March 11, 2012 8:36 AM and show us all how an expert does it.


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