Monday, March 1, 2021

Houston, We Have a Problem

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement. 

Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Kathy Smith after she was indicted for embezzlement. Smith is a former municipal court clerk for the City of Houston in Chickasaw County. A demand letter showing she owes $131,697.00 was presented to her upon arrest. The demand amount includes interest and investigative expenses.

Smith is accused of embezzling cash and money orders meant to pay fines levied in Houston Municipal Court. To conceal the embezzlement, she allegedly manipulated records in computer software used to track court-ordered fines. Smith purportedly manipulated records to show payments made by “public works” although no fines were actually paid by public works from January 2013 to April 2018, the timeframe of the alleged embezzlement. 


Smith surrendered to Special Agents at the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office. Her bond amount was set at $25,000 by the court.

“It’s been a busy month for the Office of the State Auditor, and I’m grateful for the diligent work of our investigators during that time,” said Auditor White. “Every local government office needs to take a lesson from this case. Do not put one person in charge of too much. And call us if you suspect embezzlement. We will continue to identify theft and recover taxpayer dollars.”

If convicted, Smith faces up to 20 years in prison and $5,000 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 Benjamin Creekmore.

A $50,000 surety bond covers Smith’s employment as municipal court clerk in Houston. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption. Smith 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.

 

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

She appears to be “pissed off.”

Anonymous said...

Need to clone Shad White & install him in every branch of state & Federal govt. Just sayng.

Anonymous said...

Get After It, Shadrack!

Now, let's hear from the low-hanging fruit clown in 3..2..1

Anonymous said...

I bet she drove an Audi crossover with a 30A sticker.

Anonymous said...

Damn, Karen!

Anonymous said...

Some white collar crime going down right under the nose of the AG's former outpost in the same city.

Anonymous said...

This small towns are a target rich environment for employee thieves. If their supervisors/managers had to pay also maybe they would meet their fiduciary responsibilities with proper checks & balances and general oversight.

Anonymous said...

Like someone said from another similar Shad post, "Does it never end?"
Apparently there aren't enough sugar daddy's left...

Anonymous said...

My question is the same as 9:42 a.m.

Anonymous said...

Former employees/supporters of Hood are mighty quiet. Girls Club commenters, where yall at? With all the coverage of Shad lately, surprised no one wants to hate on Pickering for obviously not investigating these people...

Anonymous said...

That look is a “Damn! They bought me.” Look.

Anonymous said...

10:42 says his question is the same as 9:42 but 9:42 asked no question. Where is Kingfish getting these posters?

Anonymous said...

The vast majority of these cases stem from a fellow worker confidentially turning in coworkers. Of course for the system to work (and it is working now in Mississippi) you have ti have a leader like Shad who has earned the trust. There are readers of these posts out there who can easily report transgressions.

Anonymous said...

"Looks like somebody has a case of the Mondays."

Anonymous said...

Hey Kathy, tell Lamar Adams hello.

Anonymous said...

Oh man that’s awesome (Don’t put one person in charge of too much). Is this office even open in Jackson? I pretty sure there’s a lot of people there that been put in charge of too much in the capital. I do love that innocent until proven guilty line. That’s why they arrest you and throw you in jail until you post bond.

Anonymous said...

awesome! he’s the real deal. one corrupt person at a time..

Anonymous said...

I guess everyone is choosing not to remember the dive your brave young anti-corruption hawk took for Brett Favre.

Glenn Boyce acquired some state money under some questionable circumstances, too, but hasn’t heard from Shadrack.

Col Rebel, not Mr. Ole Miss said...

@6:03 - Please send Shad to Oxford so that he can recover our tax dollars from "Chancellor" Boyce. The Ole Miss alumni would certainly consider a sizable donation to his next campaign if he could eliminate this clown from what was once the "Flagship".

What is the frequency Kenneth said...

The real question is at 11:42.

I don't know what the answer is!

Anonymous said...

Canton Shad, Canton.

Anonymous said...

Shad is the Best!

Anonymous said...

@ 1:31 Hi Shad.

Anonymous said...

You watch, this woman will go to prison, while Congressman Palazzo who reportedly misused funds will simply pay the $ back with other ill gotten funds.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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