Friday, March 4, 2022

Welcome Center Employee Indicted

 State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement yesterday. 

Today State Auditor Shad White announced Special Agents from his office have arrested Mississippi Welcome Center supervisor Ann Miller after she was indicted for embezzlement and fraud by an Itawamba County grand jury. A $1,937.53 demand letter was presented to her upon arrest. The demand amount includes interest and investigative expenses.

 

Miller is accused of claiming and being paid for time she did not work at the Mississippi Welcome Center located on US Highway 78 near Tremont in Itawamba County. She allegedly transmitted fraudulent timesheets to obtain payment from the Mississippi Development Authority—the state agency responsible for operating roadside welcome centers across the state. Miller’s indictment shows she is charged with fraud and embezzlement occurring in August and September 2021.




 

“Falsifying timesheets is not fair to taxpayers and is illegal,” said Auditor White. “We’re seeing an uptick in these kinds of cases. Those currently doing this should know that we are watching.”

 

Miller surrendered herself to Special Agents in Itawamba County today. Bail is set by the court.

 

If convicted on both counts, Miller faces up to 25 years in prison and thousands of dollars 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 John Weddle.

 

No surety bond covers Miller’s employment at the Mississippi Welcome Center in Itawamba County. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption. Miller 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.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

That explains why there was never any free coffee in the lobby at that welcome center!

Anonymous said...

whew, slow news day...

Anonymous said...

Itawamba County is filled with others just like her. Shameful.

Anonymous said...

Was Robert Graham ever charged for doing the exact same thing! No, the black mafia protected him and promoted him to elected office.

Anonymous said...

I heard rumor that Shad is going to start doing the same thing for State Employees who spend all day on Jackson Jambalaya!

Anonymous said...

Token white suspect.

Anonymous said...

That number is with interest ? So she claimed some overtime she didn't work ? Lots of two hour lunches ? Good Lord, this is likely half the damn state for those who "clock in". I will not state the obvious today.

Anonymous said...

Next.

Anonymous said...

Send her ass to Raymond with the rest of the criminal masterminds.

Anonymous said...

Why is Shad still focusing on these small embezzlers and shying away from Canton???

Anonymous said...

Ahem.

A few days ago, did I not say Kingfish would soon post about a crime committed via white person to prove he's not racist?

Anonymous said...

Why are some folks defending this lady? She stole money from the state. If you took a paycheck while not working or not available to work, you stole those wages. It's really simple. Sure others do it. But that doesn't make it right.

Anonymous said...

@8:31- you're only about 1/4 right. We're actually all PERS retirees who got our high 4 and retired at age 55, sitting at home waiting on our 13th check to arrive. Nanny-nanny boo-boo to you.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how much of that $1,937.53 was interest and investigative expenses.

Anonymous said...

F'n petty. This type of thing goes on in every job in every field. Fire her ass and give her a shitty reference. But a felony charge? The total amount with interest isn't even a fraction of the legal expense she will have to pick up.

Anonymous said...

She seems highly qualified to be a Hinds County Elections Commissioner.

Anonymous said...

Still waiting here in Canton. Not that we expect anything from him up here.

Anonymous said...

Up to 25 years for a $1,900 time sheet discrepancy. That’s Justice?

Anonymous said...

If Shad goes after all the state employees that get on JJ during the day, that might take away all of the readership!

Anonymous said...

Looks like Memaw may have to miss Sunday dinner this week.

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of Shad trying to find out who is on JJ and Kingfish making a stand against him and not giving up the community.

Anonymous said...

People are comparing this lady to state employees posting on JJ during working hours or screwing off. There is a huge difference:

Playing on the internet during working orders makes you a crappy employee. You can be reprimanded or even fired. But you didn't steal anything or commit fraud.

This lady falsified documents by submitting fraudulent time sheets. She knowingly stole government money. She isn't a lazy or crappy employee. She is a crook.

Anonymous said...

Shad going after miniscule timesheet discrepancies so he can put out another press release. Absolutely rediculous to put her at risk of 25 years just so he can score political points. Nothing but an attention seeking ladder climber hopping from guv paycheck to another like Tate Reeves, Lynn Fitch and Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Phil blew the whistle on this one too......

Anonymous said...

JJ commenters: “ all these ‘welfare queens’ need to be investigated and locked up”. Also JJ commenters: “tsk tsk tsk. Shame on Shad. These are small fish. Dey didntdonuffin.

Anonymous said...

What kind of stress & emergencies would require a Welcome Center employee to work overtime? A family of four needs help finding Alabama?

Anonymous said...

Shad better be careful, or his nickname will become "Low Fruit".

Anonymous said...

"Broken windows" policing. Do not underestimate the damage that can be done by looking the other way from "minor" offenses. I'm astounded at the ignorance of you folks out there who cannot understand that simple principle.

As for Canton, it will not get a bye.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and not a mention of this crap happening at Jackson City Hall. Canton is squeezed at frequently but where's the juice?

Kingfish said...

What exactly about Canton?

The State Auditor and AG went to court. Insurance company paid the claims.

Paul Mitchell said...

Maybe she was a drug kingpin slinging dope out of the welcome center, but she was so good at it that they never could get hard evidence on her after years of trying. This is the only way to get this hardened criminal off the street.

Unknown said...

So Kingfish, we’re the Canton people referred to indicted? Convicted? Seems Canton does have someone protecting the criminals there.

Anonymous said...

"So she claimed some overtime she didn't work ? Lots of two hour lunches ? Good Lord, this is likely half the damn state for those who "clock in". I will not state the obvious today."

I didn't see any mention of overtime in the write-up.

Supervisors are not eligible for overtime.

Supervisors, and other exempt employees who are required to 'clock in' will lose their exempt status.

Please don't state 'the obvious' since the rest of your post is so error laden.

Anonymous said...

token arrest is correct.

Anonymous said...

Good lord, this isn't something to lock up someone over. Make her pay it back with interest and move on in life. Actually paying back four-fold like mandated in the Old Testament would be a better deterrent. How would it help the taxpayer to spend money feeding her the rest of her life?

Anonymous said...

This 76 year old woman went to the library on company time. Way to go Shad.


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