Former City Clerk To Spend Time Behind Bars

SARDIS, Miss.--Sardis will get its money back if former city clerk Odessa Johnson follows the orders of a judge. She was told this week she has to pay back over $30,000 she embezzeled while she was employed from 2001 to 2009. She'll also have to serve two and a half years and be on probation for five years.

State Auditor Stacey Pickering told us Johnson embezzeled the money by skimming from water collections, court collections, property tax collections, payments for the marina lease, payments for dispatch services and by using the City of Sardis’ credit card for personal use.

She was caught, indicted and arrested in February 2010.

“I am pleased with the sentence handed down to Odessa Johnson by the Circuit Court,” said Pickering. “This case should serve as a reminder to public employees that my office will investigate and assist in the prosecution of any individual who betrays the public trust.”

Pickering's office is investigating hundreds of cases of fraud involving your taxpayer dollars. More arrests will be announced.