Bill stripping state auditor of power dies on Senate floor
A bill came out of a Senate committee that would have taken powers away from the state auditor’s office to investigate wasteful spending. The bill died…
state auditor
Former park commissioner charged with embezzlement
Today State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office arrested Megan Berry, former Caledonia Park Commission treasurer, on one count of embezzlement. Berry is accused of taking public funds that came into her possession by virtue of…
U.S. Congress introduces legislation to reform TANF
Federal lawmakers and leaders of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee introduced legislation to reform Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as welfare. Seven new pieces of legislation were introduced. The committee said the Mississippi case is emblematic…
Gautier Utility employee charged with embezzlement
A former Gautier Utility Department employee has been arrested in an embezzlement case investigated by the state Auditor. Auditor Shad White said Alicia Landaverde, 40, was arrested Monday and charged with embezzlement and false statements. She was taken to the…
State Auditor Shad White files for re-election
State Auditor Shad White is the latest statewide elected official to file for re-election ahead of this year's state elections. The Republican was appointed to the job…
Two Jackson County men accused of stealing, selling county equipment
Two Jackson County men, accused of taking county owned equipment, have been indicted on charges of embezzlement. Jonathan Smith and Charles Smith are accused of stealing equipment like chainsaws, weedeaters, a concrete saw and tractor implements. Several of those items…
Harrison County Board President under investigation by state auditor
WXXV has learned that Harrison County District 4 Supervisor and Board President Kent Jones is under investigation by the state Auditor's Office. Gulfport Police confirmed they were…
State auditor recognizes MGCCC's Work4College program
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and its Work4College Scholarship program was honored as the second Mississippi Public Innovations and Efficiencies Award winner of the year, State Auditor Shad White announced today. The PIE award is given to government offices for…
Mississippi sues Favre, wrestlers, over welfare misspending
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Human Services on Monday sued retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and three former pro wrestlers along with several other people and businesses to try to recover millions of…
George County man indicted in stolen catalytic converters case
A George County man faces felony charges in the case involving stolen catalytic converters. State Auditor Shad White and George County School District Superintendent Wade Whitney, Jr. announced today Elijah Murrah has been indicted for grand larceny in George County.…
Favre misses payment of $228K in welfare case, auditor says
FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters in Jackson, Miss. Favre has repaid $600,000 in state welfare money he accepted for speeches where he didn't appear,…
Favre, Dupree, DiBiases owe state money from welfare audit, state auditor says
The state Auditor's Office has issued demands for more than $77 million in welfare funds that were misspent, according to an audit conducted by the office. Among those who were issued demands to return funds are Hall of Fame quarterback…
Long Beach mayor explains why work was done on private property
Long Beach Mayor George Bass on Friday released a statement to explain how he ended up on the State Auditor's annual exceptions report. On Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, State Auditor Shad White issued his annual report for fiscal year 2021…
Jackson County employee charged in theft of equipment from road department
An employee of the Jackson County road department has been charged in the theft of equipment belonging to the county. Sheriff Mike Ezell said sheriff's investigators and investigators from the State Auditor's Office recovered the equipment, which was found at…
New law stiffens penalties for fraud, embezzlement of public funds
A law that will take effect July 1 increases penalties for public employees involved in fraud or embezzlement of taxpayer money. State Auditor Shad White announced today that those public employees who obtain $10,000 or more of taxpayer money will…
Moss Point mayor, wife, enter guilty pleas in federal court
Moss Point Mayor Mario King, 33, and his wife, Natasha R. King, 32, of Moss Point, Mississippi, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to conspiracy to commit wire fraud relating to the Mayor’s Gala held in 2019,…
State auditor returns nearly $500,000 to Mississippi
State Auditor Shad White announced his office returned nearly $500,000 to taxpayers across Mississippi after previous investigations showed public funds were stolen or misused. Amounts were returned from cases involving the City of Columbus after former Chief…
Former Chief Financial Officer of Columbus, Mississippi accused of embezzlement
LOWNDES COUNTY,Miss. (WCBI)-One of the largest embezzlement cases in the state of Mississippi is happening in the Friendly City. Former Chief Financial Officer, Milton Rawle Jr. is accused of swindling $290,000 in a scheme that reportedly went on for two years. City leaders had long suspected something was wrong with how the city’s finances were […]
Moss Point mayor, wife under indictment on federal fraud charges
Moss Point Mayor Mario King, 33, and his wife, Natasha R. King, 32, of Moss Point appeared Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert H. Walker on fraud charges relating to the Mayor’s Gala held in 2019. The indictment alleges that…
Audit: Mississippi Department of Education changed dropout records to improve stats
Mississippi’s Department of Education failed to maintain an Office of Dropout Prevention for the last 10 years as required by state law and overstated its progress toward increasing graduation rates. The graduation rate in the state was reported to have…
Largest public embezzlement case in state history: Auditor arrests Former Director of DHS and co-conspirators
JACKSON, Miss. (WXXV) – Special agents from the office of State Auditor Shad White have arrested several people in connection with a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme. Those arrested include John Davis, the former Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services…
Head of Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics required to pay $30,000 back to taxpayers, auditor says
JACKSON, Miss. – State Auditor Shad White released an audit of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) which shows MBN’s Executive Director John Dowdy will be required to repay $30,122 to taxpayers. The improper payments identified in the audit came,…
New auditor speaks at Bay Waveland Yacht Club
New Mississippi State Auditor Shad White gave his first speech since being appointed at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club. It’s been a busy few days for new State Auditor Shad White. After the 32-year-old was sworn in, he went to work…
New state auditor sworn in
Mississippi’s new state auditor is pledging to protect taxpayer’s money. Shad White took his oath of office this morning and will fill the rest of a four year term that ends in January 2020. Governor Phil Bryant named him to…