FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Friday, January 9th, 2015
Sheriff Investigating Theft of Government Funds From City of Ranger
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
On Saturday, January 3rd, the Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the mayor of the city of Ranger, in eastern Gordon County, who reported the theft of a significant amount of funds from the municipal government. A major investigation by the Sheriff’s Detective Division is now underway into this matter. Detectives assigned to this case have interviewed a number of witnesses, and have collected a large amount of documentary evidence. It is understood that the funds were Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue. The amount believed to be missing exceeds $150,000.00. SPLOST funds are received from local (county-wide) tax revenues and were allotted to the municipal government in Ranger from the 2005 SPLOST through 2012. The investigation is focusing on an administrative employee as the primary person of interest. The mayor and other elected officials are cooperating fully with the investigating officers. Gordon County (Sheriff’s) detectives expect to complete their inquiry within a few weeks and that it will result in a criminal prosecution.
Detectives pore over documentary evidence.
UPDATED FRIDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2015: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
City Clerk Arrested in Connection With Theft of SPLOST Funds
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
After a month long investigation into the theft of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds from the City of Ranger in eastern Gordon County, Sheriff’s detectives have arrested the town clerk, Cynthia R. Brown, age 57, of 580 Apple Road, Ranger, Georgia. The investigation was initiated at the request of Ranger Mayor David Charity on January 3rd after banking records revealed missing funds. Detectives believe that the thefts began in June of 2012 and continued through December, 2014, and that a total of over $154,000 was taken. On January 14th, Sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant at ‘Brown’s Best Buy’ used car dealership in Ranger where the City Clerk’s Office is located. There, the detectives seized a number of computers and several boxes of documents and records. Detectives do not know what eventually happened to the stolen funds. Brown has been charged with 26 counts of Theft by Taking, and 48 counts of Forgery. She is in jail pending bond proceedings. The case will now be referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
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