We’ve Got Trouble Right Here in Floyd County
Thursday morning Floyd County Police Chief Bill Shiflett reported that the ongoing investigation into the misappropriated funds in the Floyd County School system may exceed more than $3 million.
According to staff reports from the Rome News-Tribune:
In April, Derry Richardson, the now former Floyd County Schools maintenance director, was accused of taking over $600,000 from the system by using fraudulent purchase orders.
Richardson and 17 other defendants named in the civil RICO filing have not been charged criminally, although the Floyd County police have said there is an ongoing criminal investigation into the matter.
So far police have spent over 6,000 man hours on the investigation – which doesn’t include the GBI or FBI involvement in the case, Shiflett said.
“We expect numerous arrests to be made soon.”
Apparently the inflated and false invoices have been going on for the past eight years and may involve more than just the 18 people named in the civil suit.
The RICO statute of 1961 targets organized crime. Among other things it raises the punishment including a fine of up to $25,000 and up to 20 years in prison in addition to the forfeiture of all business interests and gains gleaned from the criminal activity. In addition, the case could be re-tried in civil court; plaintiffs allowed to sue for triple damages.
It’s unfortunate that a school system appears so awash in revenue that a $3 million loss could go unnoticed for years.
Read more: Rome News-Tribune
About Author
IrishPat
Patrick Malone is a Business Advisor and Leadership Mentor headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. He co-hosts Mountain Daybreak and Mountain Mornings, weekday news programs, and hosts This Week in Blairsville a weekend program on WJUL/WJRB. He is a mentor in Union County High School, serves on his church council and writes a monthly column on leadership in the animal healthcare industry.
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It’s unfortunate that a school system appears so incompetent that a $3 million loss could go unnoticed for years.
Fixed that for you.
Years ? Millions? High involvement ?
I thought auditors spot checked p.o.’s.
As someone who works in the auditing field, I can tell you that the typical annual audit can often miss finding fraud, because it is not looking for it really. It’s just not the purpose of that kind of audit. In addition, it is easy to fake POs and make them pass anything more than a deep dive. If someone knows a system well and also is in a position of authority, it is easy for them to get away with fraud for awhile since they know what to do and how not to raise red flags.
Fair opening statement. Been there, done that, dug deeper, when answers hit the desk, changed auditors or at least a lot of accounting folks for a lot less money misdirected, elapsed time and people involved.