Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor announced the arrest of two Tallahatchie County Road Department employees on Thursday. Special agents took Willie Garner and Willie Williams into custody on suspicion of misusing county resources.
According to officials, Garner and Williams allegedly used county dump trucks, materials, and labor to deliver dirt to Garner’s home for personal gain. The incident is part of an investigation into the theft of taxpayer funds, the auditor’s office said.
State Auditor Shad White emphasized the office’s stance against theft. “The Auditor’s office has zero-tolerance for theft of taxpayer funds and we will continue to work closely with prosecutors to hold criminals accountable,” he said.
Both Garner and Williams face potential fines of up to $10,000 and 15 years in prison if convicted. The auditor’s office noted that all individuals arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Authorities encourage the public to report suspected fraud. Tips can be submitted via the auditor’s website or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during business hours.
Jon R Myers is the executive editor of Alcorn County News and the founder of the Mississippi News Group, which he started in 2013 to cover communities across North Mississippi. He also founded the Mississippi Sports Group in 2006, which grew from a single community publication into a statewide network covering high school and college athletics. He reports on local government, public safety, schools and community life in Corinth and Alcorn County, working from public meetings, agency records and interviews with the people involved. Contact him at editor@alcornnewsms.com with news tips or corrections. For a correction, include the article link and supporting source material.
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