Georgia city clerk arrested for stealing state funds

SALE CITY – A Georgia city official was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for stealing state funds for personal purchases.

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The GBI has arrested and charged Kelly Hancock, 44, of Pelham, Georgia, with theft by a trustee. On May 24, 2024, the GBI was requested by the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office to assist in the investigation into the theft of state funds.

It is alleged that Hancock, Sale City Clerk, used a bank card for the city’s bank account to make numerous personal purchases. The card had been issued to Hancock for business purposes as a Clerk. The estimated amount stolen is currently around $15,000, but could increase as the investigation and financial audit progress.

Hancock was arrested by GBI agents and sheriff’s office investigators on May 28, 2024 and subsequently booked into the Mitchell County Jail.

This case is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomasville at 229-225-4090. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by phone at 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online or by downloading the “See Something, Send Something” mobile app.