A former Meridian police officer has been sentenced for conspiracy to defraud the government.
State Auditor Shad White reports that Tenesia Evans, who had been found guilty of the crime, has received an official sentence.
Evans was indicted in January 2021 and pled guilty in October 2022.
The former officer previously pled guilty to falsifying her time sheets with the Meridian Police Department, claiming to be on duty. She also pled guilty to working as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and as a Meridian Police Officer at the same time from August 2016 to August 2018.
Evans was served with a $17,278.38 demand letter at the time of her arrest.
“Thank you to the US Attorney’s Office for their dedicated work to bring this case to a close,” White said. “No matter the amount, my office will continue to work with prosecutors to hold those who steal your tax dollars accountable.”
The felony conviction was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District. Judge Carlton Reeves of the U.S. District Court sentenced Evans to time previously served and three years of probation.
A $50,000 insurance policy covers Evans’s employment as a Meridian Police Officer. The insurance is designed to protect taxpayers from employee dishonesty. Evans will remain liable for the full amount of the demand in addition to criminal proceedings.
