TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS— The County Treasurer and Tax Collector for Lafayette County was sentenced to two years for stealing $282,000 from county coffers.
Keesha Rose, age 37, of Lewisville, Arkansas, was also ordered to pay back the money she stole and was found guilty of one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, officials said.
U.S. Attorne Conner Eldridge said, “The conduct by this public official is shameful and a disgrace to all other public officials who are dedicated to the service to which they have been elected; such an abuse of public trust is offensive to other honest elected officers that are loyal to their positions. We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who embezzle public funds throughout the Western District of Arkansas.”
According to court records, this is the evidence:
- Keesha Rose was elected as Treasurer and CountyTax Collector for Lafayette County, Arkansas in November, 2010 and was responsible for collection and administration of all funds collected and disbursed on behalf of Lafayette County.
- Lafayette County received benefits in excess of $10,000 under a Federal program for the both 2011 and 2012.
- On May 31, 2013, The Arkansas Division of Legislative Audit reported that a comparison of cash receipts to cash bank deposits revealed that $162,275.00 was not deposited in the county’s bank accounts by Rose for a period of January 1, 2011 through September 20, 2012.
- The auditors noted numerous issues with accounting processes and record keeping that were consistent with the embezzlement of funds.
- In addition to the $162,275.00, auditors determined that for the time period between September 20, 2012 and November 7, 2013, an additional $81,618 in public funds was embezzled by Rose, bringing the total amount known prior Ms. Rose’s change of plea to $243,893.00.
- Rose pleaded guilty to the charge on October 29, 2014.
- Subsequent to Rose’s change of plea, auditors determined that for the time period between November 7, 2013 and April 30, 2014, an additional $38,143.97 in public funds was also embezzled, bringing the total amount of embezzled funds to $282,036.97, authorities said.