A former city official in Prentiss is accused of embezzling nearly $470,000 in taxpayer money.
State Auditor Shad White announced Tuesday that his team took Dana Jones, former Prentiss city clerk, into custody for allegedly misspending public money while serving as an elected official.
Jones reportedly pocketed $469,031 for personal use by adding unauthorized paychecks and overtime payments to her salary. She allegedly used city funds to make credit card payments on debt she owed. The former clerk is also said to have drafted checks made payable to herself and deposited those checks into her personal bank account.
“Every dollar stolen from taxpayers is a dollar that could have gone to paving roads, paying our teachers and cops more, or to tax cuts,” White said. “We will continue to do everything in our power to recover misspent money for taxpayers.”
Jones faces up to $175,000 in fines and 205 years in prison if convicted, per the auditor’s office.
