Thursday, August 26, 2021

Jackson Investigates Misuse of Covid-19 Relief Funds

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced at a press conference Tuesday that a former employee is under investigation for the misuse of Covid-19 relief funds.  

The City Council held an emergency executive session on August 13 to discuss the matter.  The City Council voted last week to hire the Phelps Dunbar law firm to investigate.  

Mayor Lumumba said "Recently the administration learned of the misappropriation of funds by an employee who is no longer with the city of Jackson."   He said the city immediately contacted the District Attorney and State Auditor.  The city is still investigating. 

JJ has learned the subject of the investigation is former Constituent Services Manager Keyshia Sanders although she still appears on the city website. 


33 comments:

Anonymous said...

It never stops-

Anonymous said...

So, he farmed out Shad’s job to a private law firm….scared of what the state auditor might find?

Anonymous said...

Imagine that….

Kingfish said...

The Mayor contacted the State Auditor. The City Council hired Phelps Dunbar, not the Mayor. Read.

Anonymous said...

KF - true, but didn't the Mayor bring the motion to hire Phelps?

It's true that the Council was the one that 'hired' the firm, but thats true of every contract. Kinda like the garbage fiasco, the Council would have been the one to hire the firm but it would have been brought to the Council by the Mayor.

Same deal here with the law firm.

But rather than batching about who shot John, question is - how did a constitutent services person abscond with 100 grand?

Anonymous said...

The only surprising part is that, right now, there’s just the one employee involved. More sure to come!

Anonymous said...

She was such an asset to city. I will miss her weather reports on Nextdoor, and her non-responses to email. What a shame

Anonymous said...

No presser on the muder rate of a couple every couple of days? #redherring

Anonymous said...

Here's her profile
https://www.jacksonms.gov/contacts/keyshia-e-sanders/

Anonymous said...

This gives no confidence whatsoever that the city will spend any federal infrastructure money legally, ethically, much less effectively. Obviously there are no oversight controls in place anywhere in the city of Jackson.

Anonymous said...

12:34
Aint nothing new. Plenty metro Jackson mansions been built with misappropriated federal funds.
Its are turn

EFGAlterEgo said...

Chokwe investigates himself and finds no crime committed.

Anonymous said...

12:38 is the same mindset that cries racism when they get caught.

Anonymous said...

12:38. Malcolm/Kelsey will you ever, EVER learn proper grammar and language?

Anonymous said...

didnt chokey hire this lady? she was around during daddys admin i think and then left for yarber and came back with him right?

maybe she will squeal and tell on everyone else doing something wrong

Anonymous said...

Keyshia Sanders was a heartbeat from the mayor. She handled all of the mayor’s public relations & as noted thought well of herself. Keyshia had a staff but they had no authority as Keyshia was queen bee!

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge said...

The city council will pay more to the law firm to investigate, than the lady is alleged to have misused.

Anonymous said...

"It never stops" is the "nothingburger" of corruption posts. Give it a rest, please.

Anonymous said...

Wait. Are you saying a high level aid is buying nice things with Covid funds ? Noooooo way man ! Was it a 80,000 F150 4 wheel drive ? Several of those around.

Anonymous said...

The city council will pay more to the law firm to investigate, than the lady is alleged to have misused.

Yep

Anonymous said...

She didn't start "misusing" other people's money overnight, given her jobs with the city over the years. She likely has done it before without getting caught.

Anonymous said...

If the DA and State Auditor are looing into this, why does the City need to hire and pay a law firm too ?

Anonymous said...

What makes this mayor waste much needed city of Jackson money while paying a couple of trainees at a major law firm while Shad has proven over and over his competence. By the way, this is exactly what Shad does in his job (and very well) as state auditor. Maybe the mayor wants to keep those books as far away from Shad as he can.

Anonymous said...

Lissen up goobs! The city hired Phelps to represent the city, not to prosecute the city - That would be the job of the state auditor or federal authorities. As much as I abhor this mayor and his band of merry councilmen, it was a smart move to get their own lawyers in the mix instead of sittin' on a bench in front of city hall waiting on the fallout.

And there's that same mental dullard claiming this is not worth defending - the small-potatoes clown.

On a related note; When an employer is charged with an EEO violation, does that employer sit around and wait for the EEOC to investigate and needle the corporation for months, or does the employer hire a law firm to investigate the charge and get ducks in a row?

Summa you people need to stick with giving Covid advice.

Anonymous said...

Most likely going on all over America. Always have said Covid is more of a money maker versus a killer of mankind.

Anonymous said...

old news, this story was reported on 2 days ago https://www.wlbt.com/2021/08/24/lumumba-speak-press-conference-tuesday/

Anonymous said...

11:06 - You can continue to get your news from dull newsreaders like the monotone, unemotional Howard and Magpie (Lumumba's crew) or you can get it here, where there's lively debate, updates, humor and the occasional jackass claiming day-old news is unworthy of his time.

Anonymous said...

"Summa you people need to stick with giving Covid advice."

Please, sweet Jesus, no.

Kingfish said...

Old? There are two new pieces of info in my post.

Question is how did a constituent services manager have access to funds? Not like that's a public works directors job

Anonymous said...

@7:12 a.m. - Whoever the bank president gives access to the vault has access to its contents. Run this rabbit trail to its logical conclusion and you might catch Brer Mayor.

Anonymous said...


"Constituent Services Manager"

What are the duties of that position ?
What are the required qualifications ?
What is the salary of this position ?

I'm asking serious questions ... not trying to be funny.







Anonymous said...

" old news, this story was reported on 2 days ago "

Hello President Biden ... I'm glad to see you posting on JJ.



Anonymous said...

3:48 - The position in football is called 'pulling guard'. Not sure about the pay but I'm bettin' on quality perks, including an auto since the incumbent might have to go see 'bout a constituent at midnight or Sunday after church.



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