Table of Content
A former Mississippi airport director is accused of embezzling authorities cash to be used partially on playing. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Unwell-gotten cash
The previous director of a Mississippi airport has been indicted for embezzlement following an investigation from the state auditor’s workplace.
used the Tunica County Airport’s bank card to repay his private bills, together with playing
Eric Konupka is alleged to have used the Tunica County Airport’s bank card to repay his private bills, together with playing at native casinos. He additionally used the cardboard to withdraw money from an ATM, money he later used to cowl a restaurant invoice and buy meals, automotive provides, power drinks, and cigarettes.
The Mississippi Legal professional Normal’s workplace is dealing with the prosecution. If convicted, Konupka might face 1000’s of {dollars} of fines and as much as 20 years in jail.
Particulars of the case
Konupka was indicted by a neighborhood court docket and ordered to repay $9,259.55 to the federal government for his fraudulent use of the bank card. The positive covers the cash he spent plus curiosity, in addition to investigative charges.
In line with state auditor Shad White, the sum of money is irrelevant to the case. As an alternative, the straightforward misappropriation of presidency cash was sufficient to warrant his involvement.
we’ll maintain the road on any misuse of taxpayer cash”
“Whether or not it’s the most important public fraud within the state or an worker utilizing a authorities buying card to purchase just a few thousand {dollars}’ price of things for themselves, we’ll maintain the road on any misuse of taxpayer cash,” White said in a statement. “We should depend on prosecutors to make the choice about when to cost somebody with a criminal offense, so I’m grateful for the cooperation between investigators and prosecutors on this case.”
Konupka already bonded out and can wait in Florida, the place he was initially arrested, till a court docket date is about by a Mississippi decide. No data has been launched as to how the cash was discovered to be lacking.
The accused labored on the airport, thought of a authorities entity, from 2003-21. His employment time is protected by a clause designed to stop taxpayers from corruption, in keeping with White’s assertion.
Extra Mississippi embezzlement instances
Mississippi continues to be attempting to navigate its well beyond the continued Brett Favre controversy. In line with a number of stories, the Corridor of Fame quarterback, assisted by former Governor Phil Bryant, directed taxpayer cash meant to fund welfare to assist construct a brand new volleyball enviornment at his daughter’s faculty, the College of Southern Mississippi.
Mississippi has the best poverty charge of any American state at 19.58%, almost a full % forward of the closest state (Louisiana).
In the meantime, instances of embezzlement have been proliferating throughout the globe. Every week in the past, an Indonesian provincial governor turned the topic of an investigation after he had been discovered playing at Crown Resorts in Australia. Indonesian authorities claimed they discovered $36.2m in Lukas Enembe’s account, regardless of his incomes an annual wage of simply $7,764.
In late July, a Welsh finance supervisor was discovered to have stolen over £47,000 ($56,629) in 2020 from a charity she used to work for.