Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Columbus CFO Indicted for Embezzlement

State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 


Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested former City of Columbus Chief Financial Officer Milton Rawle, Jr. after he was indicted for embezzlement by a grand jury in the district of District Attorney Scott Colom. Upon his arrest, Rawle was issued a demand showing he owes $354,896.27 to taxpayers in Columbus. This amount includes interest and investigative expenses.


Rawle is accused of embezzling nearly $290,000 by making electronic money transfers to personal bank accounts from December 2016 to December 2018. To hide the unauthorized transactions, Rawle purportedly used official-sounding labels like “payroll” and “reimbursement.” Investigators also believe he used clipart to alter city bank statements to conceal the transfers. The case was investigated after accounting discrepancies were found and reported by a private CPA hired by the City of Columbus to complete a routine, annual audit.

“Mr. Rawle stole a great deal from the taxpayers of Columbus,” said Auditor White. “I’m thankful for the hard work of the auditor’s office investigators for building this case against him. Now it’s time for prosecutors to send him to prison and get the money back.”

Rawle was arrested by Special Agents yesterday in Jackson County. He was transported to Lowndes County where bond will be set by the court.

If convicted, Rawle faces up to 20 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. All persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case will be prosecuted by the office of District Attorney Colom.

“Prosecutors should not go lightly here just because Mr. Rawle is a non-violent offender,” White said. “Mr. Rawle stole much more than many burglars could ever get away with. We shouldn’t treat him differently just because he wore a tie and stole with a pen.”

A $100,000 surety bond covers Rawle’s time as an employee of Columbus. A surety bond is similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption. Rawle will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal proceedings.

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.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

That Shad White is something else. Go Shad! Go Shad!
I never seen a elected official round up so many crooks in my life & I'm 72 years old. WOWEE! WOWEE! WOWEE!
Shad White he's the MAN! Crooks he's coming for you!

Anonymous said...

This may be one explanation as to why the city's finances are in such awful shape

Anonymous said...

Wonder if there are any big city wide projects or initiatives that are ongoing that he could have had his hands in as well?

Anonymous said...

Fake news

He had authority to spend it

It’s totally legal

Witch hunt!

Anonymous said...

Damn! Is this in the culture in MS? I have never seen so much embezzlement by public employees anywhere else in the U.S. There is no way that anyone doing this could rationalize that this is acceptable behavior.

If convicted, but him in stocks in the city square and provide an ample supply of throwing rocks; then send him to prison.

If true, he stole from everyone of his neighbors, relatives, everyone.

Burke said...

Shad may need a security detachment. There are a lot of people out there who get scared beyond belief when an elected official actually does his or her job.

Kudos to the people who work for him. They need to be featured and publicly thanked.

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed that Mississippi doesn't consistently rank just below Louisiana on the list of top 10 most corrupt states in the country. We have all of the ingredients: low pay, weak education systems and high poverty, among other things. But most importantly, we lack strong leaders who are committed to rooting out corruption no matter where it leads, because it would disrupt the good ol' boy network of both races.

Anonymous said...

12:30 Although I like Shad, this was discovered by plain ole bean counters, not superman.

Anonymous said...

2:45 PM The general always get the glory for winning the battle youngster. General Stonewall Shad White!

Anonymous said...

12:54...really?

"...To hide the unauthorized transactions, Rawle purportedly used official-sounding labels like “payroll” and “reimbursement.” Investigators also believe he used clipart to alter city bank statements to conceal the transfers. The case was investigated after accounting discrepancies were found and reported by a private CPA hired by the City of Columbus to complete a routine, annual audit..."

Anonymous said...

Hey 12:47, there is a multi million dollar street light replacement project going on. Was the CFO involved in the approval of that project?

Anonymous said...

Well I'm not surprised. The mayor is as corrupt as they come. He hired his buddy Rawles and if I were Shad, I'd be going over the books myself and not just take the word of an independent auditor. Pockets run deep in Columbus and the mayor spends millions on pet projects while the streets are decayed and have holes in them that will take a tire off easily.

Anonymous said...

The original idea of what a politician/leader protector of the people type sure has changed since the Founders wrote the Constitution. These folks we put in office, collectively, couldn't get a job at a Marathon gas station. They'd steal gas, drink all the beer and eat all the food then wonder why the boss is upset that they lost money.

Anonymous said...

Shad needs to come to Canton. But saying that I'm sure that is a can of worms he's been told to stay away from.

Anonymous said...

Caught him in Jackson County, wonder if he knows Mario and Natasha.

Anonymous said...

I believe Shad needs to check and see who are on the Columbus payroll. Shad could have a field day with Canton Municipal Utilities (CMU). Starting with insurance payments for non existing policies.

map maker said...

jail is not big enough the hold the crooks in Canton and CMU.

Anonymous said...

Some dumb-ass claimed 'witch-hunt' and said 'he had authority to spend it'. Reckon you believe he had the 'authority' to transfer all this money to his personal accounts too. Interesting what a records subpoena will reveal. Show up at the courthouse with your sign and let us know how your protest goes.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Shad White isn't Young Enough to Rid Mississippi from even 25% of the Corruption that plagues the State, if he works 20 hrs a week, until he's 96.

When the Head of HHS can siphon of at least 68 million, & Marcus Dupree walks into the Nonprofit Offices with a videographer in tow to document HIS role in teaching underprivileged children the finer Equestrianism (English for Horseback Riding) skills AT the Ranch the Nonprofit has purchased for him...and everyone in the room is trying to cover their faces with hands to forehead & quickly closing laptops that are present...the Marcus starts introducing each person to the videographer...That's Bold...

Willie Mays
"They throw the ball, I hit it. They hit the ball, I catch it."...KISS



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