Embezzlement investigation in Jackson, MS, referred to AG and Audit Office

The city of Jackson’s investigation into possible embezzlement of funds has been turned over to the Mississippi Attorney General’s office and the State Auditor’s office, according to city communications director Melissa Payne.

In June, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced that “we believe this is an embezzlement of funds.” The city’s human resources director, Toya Martin, identified “irregularities” that led to the firing of a city employee. The allegedly stolen funds were intended to pay health insurance premiums for retired employees, the mayor said.

“We believe we have uncovered multiple forms of fraud related to this employee,” Lumumba said during the announcement. “From what we have found so far, we do not believe anything is coming out of the city’s general fund or budget, but rather that their position is being exploited to either take advantage of companies that work in a third-party relationship with the City of Jackson or to take advantage of those who are directly and individually insured.”

FBI raids:The FBI recently raided the Hinds County District Attorney’s office. They also visited City Hall

An internal investigation was launched, which had been underway for “about a month” at the time of Lumumba’s announcement. Last week, Payne told the Clarion Ledger that the city’s investigation had been completed and the results had been forwarded to the auditor’s office, headed by Shad White, and to the AGO, headed by Lynn Fitch, for “deeper investigation.”