The former vice president of human resources at the Mississippi Lottery has been taken into custody and charged with embezzlement.
Hope Bishop is accused of stealing over $187,000 in unauthorized raises during her time at the lottery. If found guilty, she could spend up to 20 years behind bars.
Officials with the state auditor’s office clarified in a press release that any money stolen was not from the gaming side of lottery actions, meaning “her alleged actions did not affect the integrity of lottery games.”
The announcement of Bishop’s arrest was paired with a separate embezzlement case involving a former clerk at the Rankin County Tax Collector’s Office. Brittney Phillips faces up to 20 years for allegedly stealing north of $36,500 by not registering car tags and taking cash payments.
“We’re grateful for the work of the Lottery Corporation and Tax Collector Caroline Gilbert in helping to identify these suspects,” State Auditor Shad White said.
White also urged any Mississippians who suspect someone is stealing taxpayer funds to contact his office at 1-800-321-1275.
