Jackson Jambalaya

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement.


State Auditor Shad White announced today that George Nangah, former Town Clerk of Coldwater, was arrested by local law enforcement in Tunica County after a joint investigation between the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor and federal agencies. Nangah faces a federal indictment of multiple counts of wire fraud. He was also issued a demand for $302,973.19 from the Auditor’s office.

Mr. Nangah was born “Ekese Awah Nangah” and has used multiple aliases. He was Town Clerk in Coldwater from April 2014 until July 2017. During this time, he made over $116,000 in unapproved purchases for items such as a GoPro camera and gift cards for airline tickets and hotels. Many of these purchases were made by town debit cards or invoice accounts at local Lowe’s Home Improvement and Best Buy stores. Nangah also issued over $46,000 in unapproved payments directly to himself and over $53,000 to another individual in a kickback scheme.

The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor will deliver the case to the District Attorney for the Mississippi 17th District, John Champion, to secure an indictment for embezzlement.

State Auditor Shad White said, "We will crack down on any embezzlement at any level of government. But embezzlement is even more troubling when it involves a large amount of cash and is perpetrated by someone with potential violations of federal and state law hanging over their head. I'm glad we were able to partner with federal authorities to make sure Nangah was apprehended and brought to justice. I look forward to working with either state or federal prosecutors to make sure Nangah is held accountable."


The FBI issued the following statement.

George Nangah, 51, of Cordova, Tennessee was arrested following a 14-count indictment by a federal grand jury alleging wire fraud, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi William C. Lamar, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi Christopher Freeze and Mississippi State Auditor Shad White.

According to the indictment, Nangah allegedly committed wire fraud by unauthorized use of a debit card attached to the Town of Coldwater’s general fund banking account at home improvement stores in Southaven and Bartlett, Tennessee for items not used by the Town of Coldwater. Nangah also allegedly used a charge account set up in the town’s name at an electronics store where he would purchase items and gift cards not used or meant for use by the town. He also allegedly provided unauthorized payments to himself on the town’s clearing and general fund bank account. Nangah also allegedly made unauthorized payments to a third party who would then pay a kickback amount to Nangah.

In all, from April 2014 to July 2017, it is alleged that Nangah received approximately $116,005.41 in cash and property as a result of the scheme.

Nangah made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy in the Northern District of Mississippi in Oxford on Tuesday. Magistrate Judge Percy ordered Nangah to be held pending a detention hearing set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

If convicted, Nangah faces up to 20 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the FBI Jackson Division’s Southaven Resident Agency and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office. The FBI Memphis Division and Tunica County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Parker Kline.

These charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.