mississippi state auditor investigations 15. maj 2023 As for other efforts to recoup mishandled funds, in the FY 2022 Audit Exceptions Report, Auditor White said the Investigations Law Enforcement Division issued eighty-seven formal demands for a total of $101,026,109.27 and recovered misspent or embezzled funds totaling $1,926,802.10. Representatives for Favre did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson speaks onstage during the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Colors Behind the Look: a Celebration of Fashion, Costume Design and Glam Event in Los Angeles, Feb. 25, 2022. In May, it opted to extend the contract for another year, the last extension allowed under the current deal. We believe that an informed Mississippi is a better Mississippi. 10 0 obj endobj ", He said in the two-page letter to Garland that "failure to investigate may lead to the impression that DOJ is continuing the previous administration's pattern of looking the other way when laws are broken by white state officials, especially when the wrongdoing disproportionately harms minorities. White has pointed to slow action by federal authorities as justification for his agency investigating and making the arrests. BX)VPaz]o^8{c?d>qYS{~/$q}r8KL=y|11#fOi+x4?&bqPV@dAN/^3R9tIPG_JmDEZ=}:;8)G9uuwn|IfXN du.wf*Q@4.6V&P\7>x[x~^=W%C:[`=KsypRVRCG isvJeJZ[KShL=o_D@4PLd__0wn:-U=i7?k=y+\4b An early oddity in the auditors probe came when White went to the Hinds County District Attorneys Office notoriously understaffed and suffering huge backlogs of cases after he launched an eight-month investigation without notifying federal authorities. White's office helped lead the investigation into Mississippi's $77 million welfare fraud scandal, . Prior to making that move, she interned for a congressional office in Washington, D.C. and a multi-state government relations and public affairs firm in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 2016 as the states first nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, Mississippi Todays roots in Capitol coverage have grown to encompass a myriad of beats beyond politics and policy, including education, public health, justice, environment, equity, and, yes, sports. Three former state auditors say they would have recused themselves or limited their involvement in the investigation into Mississippi's welfare fraud scandal to avoid perceptions of conflict of interest due to current auditor Shad White's close relationship with former Gov. 8d Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email. Lee O. Sanderlin is an investigative and political reporter covering the state of Mississippi. That investigation, revealed Thursday, details 18 separate instances where leadership within MDOC engaged in "widespread fraud, waste and abuse." State Auditor Shad White said former MDOC Commissioner Pelicia Hall was responsible for mishandling most of those taxpayer dollars, particularly for authorizing all employees with comp time to be . State Auditor Shad White told the Magnolia Tribune that his office continues to work month in and month out to recoup such funds for taxpayers. At the center of the state's UnitedHealth probe is OptumRX, a UnitedHealth subsidiary that manages prescription drug plans. <> Lumumba said the city did initiate a conversation with the auditor, but it was related to a question on whether he could declare an emergency over garbage pickups. Got a story tip? Jackson, MS 39205-0956 BX1I &)c)K1 dXJ5! Do Reeves, Gunn consider IUDs contraceptives? The Mississippi Department of Human Services said in a statement Monday to ABC News: "The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has been in limited, one-way communication with the federal authorities. (WLBT) - New information into the largest embezzlement and fraud case in state history involving misspent TANF money - funds meant to help needy families in Mississippi. We look forward to a swift recovery of these funds.. Anderson tells us it is ultimately going to be the discretion of the feds to determine who is culpable in this case. Our stories may appear on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. Brett Favre to remain defendant in Mississippi welfare case, judge rules. 25, 2023 at 4:28 PM PDT JACKSON, Miss. 3 \2RJB* " ?e)! (AF~R0gH@PXu$6BLQkQ([ (- F-BJ6i0o*/wr{`f (d)/@53@b-WzHa I R$Sb % |2 `Y X}f, ~"##Y\\~ Fax: 601.576.2687 He said the mayors independent attorney had filed a motion the same day the memo was released referencing a confidential document that was going to be filed Monday questioning whether the council had the legal authority to hire outside counsel. Jv|,w\7"|L\M$E9VzT);2op)7=mi+uUv( wRP3LA3$H.~1q^T_JWN?yAKDMcJ.anLNm"'[:[^[kirKe(d)Cb 9,j\Vs?O'm=BcJ&if9YmVpeo cU%&[ ^/^\"rH&uwoNu|"ROyVV[Ht&jwQ\=.Mut|qHr\la4#v/v 2cC.+:RBaGB]VJ7V But you need to know that you have advocates who are standing up for you, and this is not going to be allowed and it's stopping right now.". Program Auditor I. <> As part of its contract to operate the MDOC prison in Marshall County, MTC developed minimum mandatory staffing levels to ensure the safety of inmates and prison staff. Recouping taxpayer monies part of State Anne Summerhays is a recent graduate of Millsaps College where she majored in Political Science, with minors in Sociology and American Studies. ( WJTV) - On Monday, State Auditor Shad White announced Larry Ware has been named the new Director of Investigations at the Mississippi . But now they initiate the action to look at some invoices with all the other things that could have popped up on their radar?, Did they all of a sudden call the city up and say, Hey, weve been looking at your invoices, and we want to make sure that you guys are doing everything OK? Hartley said. Accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen released a 175-page independent audit looking at fraud claims between Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2019. State Workforce Investment Board c/o Mississippi Department of Employment Security P.O. - SB 2338 of 2022 which requires the Department of Human Services Fraud Investigations Unit to report suspected crimes to . In 2021, she joined Yall Politics as a Capitol Correspondent. xxD@@pwAKp=]w8%H@ w^OffwvgvBpmT*?28Nn hX0OSg the law, and earned a certificate in forensic accounting (the use of accounting to discover fraud) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Angel McIlraths office in the courtroom of Judge Kathy King Jackson. Its unclear where any continuing federal or state investigations stand at this point. Mississippi is now taking steps to give investigators more time to look into bribery cases. White was appointed the 42nd State Auditor of Mississippi in July 2018 and won election to the office after establishing The council did not immediately approve a new contract with the company and residents were left without pickups for approximately two weeks. White and his office identified the misspending and possible theft of tens of millions of dollars in federal money meant to help the states poor. What is the cost of Mississippi deciding not to expand Medicaid? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. White has said that after his initial eight-month investigation and arrests, he has involved federal authorities and turned over everything his investigators have. State auditor talks about duties, current investigations. stream 2 0 obj State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement: Continue Reading, JACKSON, Miss. endobj As for the amount charged for billable hours, Banks said if there was an amount charged that was not approved in the councils order, it does need to be changed. It was valuable work that helped us resolve a potential stop of picking up of garbage.. She has quickly established trust in the Capitol as a fair, honest, and hardworking young reporter. Some instances of Medicaid fraud are more egregious than others. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Editorial cartoons and photo essays are not included under the Creative Commons license and therefore do not have the "Republish This Story" button option. of years of prison sentences for fraudsters. These exceptions involved miscellaneous, disallowed expenditures by chancery clerks and circuit clerks and are recorded as paid in full and settled to the appropriate fund directly.'. The fact is that it was work that was performed over a period of six months for the city council. Both of them also own homes valued at more than $1 million. The Auditors investigation revealed MTC failed to appropriately notify and credit MDOC when its staffing levels at the Marshall County facility fell below the minimum amount required by the contract. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditors office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275. But the people who are at risk now are the people who vote on claims all the time.. We prefer Author Name, Mississippi Today in the byline. Pender brings 30 years of political and government reporting experience to Mississippi Today. And when those facts are looming out there, youve got to back off and ask will my involvement jeopardize the integrity of the investigation I think (White) is a man of high integrity, but you asked me personally what I would do and thats it.. McGrew, Smith, Nancy New and Zach New have all pleaded not guilty, according to The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 5 0 obj The investigation could include names not already released in civil complaints issued this week by State Auditor Shad White. "This new law is important because white-collar crime gets more and more complex every year," said Auditor White. Phil Bryant on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, moments following his being sworn in to office at the Capitol. The NAACP called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate years of allegations of widespread welfare fraud and misspending in Mississippi totaling over $94 million, according to a letter obtained exclusively by ABC News. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis). But in an October 2021 interview with Mississippi Today before the judge strengthened thegag order in the case to further restrict White the auditor said he had not seen instances of Bryant directing his welfare chief to spend federal money on specific programs. Box 956 (844) 437-6282 Website. largest civil recovery after an auditors investigation in the history of the office, and concluded cases that, collectively, led to hundreds Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Coahoma Community College employees Gwendolyn Jefferson and Stacie Neal were each sentenced to serve five years in prison. You cant edit our stories, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. JACKSON, Miss. In June 2021, the State of Mississippi reached a $55.5 million settlement with the Centene Corporation and their PBM thanks to this investigation, OSA said in the report. "The Auditor's investigation revealed MTC failed to appropriately notify and credit MDOC when its staffing levels at the Marshall County facility fell below the minimum amount required by the contract," the press release added. MDHS has provided information relevant to the case as requested by federal authorities, but has not been apprised of the status of the federal investigation beyond a statement that it is on-going.". Instead of paying New York litigators to try this case, hed be better off fully repaying the amount of welfare funds he owes the state., JACKSON, Miss. At this time, MDHS has no plans to change our engagement with Mr. Piggot in assisting with the continued investigation of the misuse of TANF funds. White at the time said that his office moved swiftly and without notifying or involving federal authorities so as to halt the scheme before any more money was misspent or stolen. Published in April 2022, the explosive investigation exposed corruption in Mississippi's dysfunctional welfare system, which deprived the poorest US state of millions of federal dollars that was intended to address widespread poverty. In its report, the auditors office found two people who were receiving benefits despite reporting six-figure incomes on their state taxes. ", Johnson urged "in the strongest possible terms to take immediate action to investigate and prosecute those involved in this massive theft of federal funds.". No further arrests have been made since February of 2020 . While at Millsaps, Summerhays received a Legislative Fellowship with the Womens Foundation of Mississippi where she worked with an active member of the Mississippi Legislature for the length of session. 11 0 obj Hurst, a Trump administration appointee who left office in early 2021, declined a recent request for comment on the case. Mississippi's auditor says $70 million in federal welfare funds went to Brett Favre, a sports complex and an ex-wrestler in a scandal that has rocked the poorest state. By Cindy Boren. <> Attorneys fees pulled from Jackson claims docket due to auditors investigation, Truck possibly connected to Hinds County jail escape found in Newton County, Teen arrested after two dead, four others injured in Bay St. Louis shooting, Paraplegic fisherman speaks to Beulah Baptist Church, Eleven players with Mississippi ties selected in 2023 NFL Draft, City of Byram awarded thousands of state dollars for infrastructure projects, Belhaven football puts a smile on the face of little girl, First Alert Forecast: mild breezes Monday; rain, storm chances return late week, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit. Confirmation of the probe comes a week after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and State Auditor Shad White announced a $55 million settlement with Centene, another Fortune 500 company, to resolve allegations Centene had over-billed the state Division of Medicaid for prescription drugs. Toll Free: 1.800.321.1275, Contact An April 14 email from City Attorney Catoria Martin to council members informed them that since April 5, we have received daily requests for additional information and for updates on the information previously provided.. Today State Auditor Shad White announced Jonathan Smith, a former employee of Jackson County, has been convicted of two counts of embezzlement. JACKSON, Miss. Richards filed its first complaint against the mayor and council last summer for failing to pay the company for trash collection services. Six people have been indicted on state charges, including Davis. JACKSON, Miss. A review of invoices showed Mississippi'sMedicaid service was being charged more thanthe contractually allowed price capsfor certain drugs and services. Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director Bob Anderson says though the State Auditor issued civil demands to eleven individuals and groups earlier this week, the agency will continue working with former U.S. Attorney Brad Piggot on the criminal investigation. JACKSON, Miss. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, right, confers with fellow Republican and Gov. The MCEC did not reply to a request for comment from ABC News. You can call him at 601-559-3857, send it to LSanderlin@gannett.com or message him on Twitter @LeeOSanderlin. - Last week Governor Tate Reeves signed HB 405, a key piece of State Auditor Shad White's 2023 legislative agenda. endobj His trial, which was supposed to start last year, has been delayed several times. Continue Reading, JACKSON, Miss. Bryant has since acknowledged that the content of his messages doesnt look good, but while the auditors office has possessed the records for over two years, it concealed them from the public and has not made any indication it has further investigated the matter. Knowing what we know now, clearly he should have recused himself and should be recusing himself now.. "This completed audit of DHS for the previous year shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State . a tough, no-nonsense reputation. Mississippi State Auditor Shad White released a report in August 2022 that said absent fathers cost taxpayers $560 million a year, with incarceration rates contributing to those costs. As for the discrepancy, Williamson said the council approved hiring the firm in question at an hourly rate of $325 or $350 an hour. See a spelling or grammar error in our story? You can call him at 601-559-3857, send it to LSanderlin@gannett.com or message him on Twitter @LeeOSanderlin. Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Mabus said that given Whites ties to Bryant, he should have handed off his lead role in investigating to someone else. State Rep. Chris Bell (D) will serve as the new MLBC Chair as Sen. Angela Turner-Ford (D) chose not to seek the post for another term. The panel was held at Germantown High School and comes after Auditor White issued an August 2022 report showing the societal and economic costs of fatherlessness in Mississippi. Hartley questioned the timing of the auditors investigation and how the auditor was made aware of the councils expenses. JACKSON, Miss. Both women pleaded guilty to conspiracy and embezzlement. Whoops! Mississippi has contracted with UnitedHealth, under the name UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, benefitssince 2017. Documents obtained by WLBT earlier this month showed Auditor Shad White had launched an inquiry into the councils legal expenses related to its nearly two-year-long battle with the mayor over garbage pickup. The total amount of funds recovered by the Office of the State Auditor for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021, was The Office of the State Auditor continues to serve as a watchdog organization . However, state Medicaid recipients are not the only Mississippians impacted by PBMs. endobj In Mississippi, the state contracts with health providers to provide Medicaid coverage to nearly 500,000 people. Steve Patterson was state auditor from 1992 to 1996, when he resigned after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of using a false affidavit to buy a car tag. We talked with the city attorney about that, and I wasnt satisfied with her answer, Foote said. Deputy Director, Criminal Investigations Division: Mississippi, USA bxxxxxd@osa.ms.gov: Fletcher Freeman: Deputy Director Of Communications: Mississippi, USA . endobj JACKSON, Miss. 9 0 obj Note: After this story published, Auditor Shad White responded on Twitter. Mississippi Mississippi Division of Medicaid investigators dont have the regulatory power to review tax returns themselves, something White said should change. The New's nonprofits received $9.4 million from MDHS from the time the auditor's office began investigating them in July 2019 until Feb. 4, 2020, two days before Nancy and Zack New were charged . A 2020 investigation by The Marshall Project exposed how prison operator MTC billed the state millions for ghost workers. We center readers in everything we do, informingand engagingMississippians through reporting, podcasts, events and online communities. But some holes in the audit have since emerged, especially relating to Bryants involvement behind the scenes. - Today State Auditor Shad White announced former Hancock County Coroner James Faulk has been indicted on multiple charges. To republish online, simply click the button, copy the html code and paste into your Content Management System (CMS). Four out of six have since pleaded guilty to state charges. Mr. Hes also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefitted from misspent funds. P.O. Bryant said at the time that he wanted someone with independence who did not have numerous political relationships and ties to the government officials and institutions he would be auditing. The company reported over $257 billion in revenue last year. <> However today, the Auditors office says PBMs are large corporations that have incredible power in the pharmaceutical industry. Jon Salem, who was fired from the council in August, said he was fired for bringing forward concerns that the council was misspending grant money, including those from local government. Ole Miss shows they have some fight left in them. 8 0 obj The questionable funds included $5 million for a lease agreement for a multi-purpose wellness center that would later become a volleyball stadium, $635,000 for a virtual reality lab that included individuals who weren't identified as needy and $44,000 to retired professional football players for football camps that focused on student-athletes and did not address helping at-risk youth. Most of the misappropriated funds are alleged to have been stolen through a now-dissolved anti-poverty program called Families First for Mississippi, co-operated by the Mississippi Community Education Center, according to the audit. Toll Free: 1.800.321.1275, Contact READ MORE: State Auditor Shad White discusses welfare investigation, former Gov. Mr. Piggot will be focused on the evidentiary elements related to the case. However, one attorney that was part of the same firm was billing the city at a rate of $375 an hour, he said. stream The new law increases the statute of limitations on bribery from three years to five years. State Auditor Shad White has named Larry Ware as the new Director of Investigations. Anna has received national recognition for her work, including the 2021 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, the 2021 Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, the 2021 John Jay/Harry Frank Guggenheim Excellence in Criminal Justice Reporting Award, the 2020 Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award and the February 2020 Sidney Award for reporting on Mississippis debtors prisons. The charges are one count of embezzlement, three counts of false representations to defraud the government, and one count of alteration of records. The total demand amount$1,991,774.10includes interest and investigative costs. The Mississippi State Auditor's Office is looking intowhether UnitedHealth Group, the fifth largest company in the U.S., is over-billing Medicaid for prescription drugs. Ray Mabus served as state auditor from 1984 to 1988. Originally from Florence, Mississippi, Pender is a journalism graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and has received numerous awards throughout his career for reporting, columns and freedom of information efforts. When asked for comment about this alleged fraud, a Mississippi Division of Medicaid spokesperson said it was the divisions own investigators who originally caught the fraud. TUPELO Unveiling more details about his investigation into the spending of federal money intended to help the needy, State Auditor Shad Whit Mississippi auditor Shad White finds $118M in . They wont say. If you share our stories on social media, please tag us in your posts using. White also faced questions early on and criticism from the U.S. Attorneys Office as to why he didnt promptly bring in federal authorities, who have massive investigative resources, particularly since the malfeasance involved federal tax dollars. endstream Updated: Jul 27, 2021 / 01:43 PM CDT. Tool Tour 2022 Tickets Ticketmaster, Lisa Thibault Florida, Bclp Assessment Centre, Articles M