A special investigative audit has found that more than $95,000 was misappropriated in the Town of Tryon and that three former employees reportedly misappropriated almost $80,000 in payroll.
State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, whose office conducted the special investigative audit, said, “The person in charge of law enforcement appears to have been breaking the law.”
The audit found the majority of the unauthorized payroll amount was received by former Police Chief Jered Prickett.
“The Board of Trustees improperly appointed the clerk-treasurer, Candace Prickett, to an elected position which she held for more than eight years.
“That is a violation in state law,” Byrd added.
Byrd’s office conducted the audit in response to a request by the Town’s Board of Trustees. The Trustees asked for the audit of questionable financial activity of former employees.
Byrd said the Trustees had discovered there were not sufficient funds to meet the Town’s financial obligations. On June 12, 2019, the Board of Trustees officially requested her office to conduct the investigative audit of the Town and the Town’s Utility Authority.
The board reportedly alleged that three former employees, Prickett, his wife Candace and Jessica Turpin received compensation in excess of board approved amounts.
According to audit findings, Trustees became aware of certain facts. They included:
Prickett had reported W-2 earnings for 2018 of $106,000.
The Town’s bank account was overdrawn by around $8,000.
The Town was several months behind on paying bills.
Purchase Orders were being pre-signed.
Credit card statements were being paid out but not shown to the board.
Three issues were identified by the State Auditor and Inspector’s office as audit objectives.
One was to determine if employee compensation was accurate, board approved and paid in accordance with applicable laws.
Another was to find out if expenditures were made for a municipal purpose, board approved and properly supported.
And determine if donations received by the police department were properly recorded and deposited.
One of the audit findings reportedly found Jered Prickett charged $3,776.37 in questionable credit card expenditures. These included a combination of improper fuel purchases along with oth er personal transactions like food, medical care and deer hunting supplies.
He allegedly used town funds to purchase six firearms totaling $3,330.40 and they were not located in the town’s inventory, the findings state.
Donations made to the Tryon Police Department totaling $3,960 were either cashed out by the former police chief or deposited into his personal bank account and not deposited in the town’s bank account, the audit found.
The audit also discovered donations to the Police Auxiliary bank account totaling $4,866.50 were misappropriated. This occurred through cash and ATM withdrawals and six of those ATM withdrawals occurred at local, area casinos.
According to the audit, Jered Prickett, in addition to serving as police chief, served as Utility Operator and Animal Control Officer. His wife Candace, who was Clerk-Treasurer, also served as Utility assistant.
Jessica Turpin served as the Utility Clerk and the Court Clerk. It’s stated in the audit those three performed essential town functions and were primarily responsible for the Town’s day-to-day operations.
The auditors point out that between July 2016 and May 2019, Jered Prickett received unauthorized payroll of $70,987.69, a misappropriation of public funds.
Between January of 2017 and May of 2019, Candace received a total of $5,212.50 in unauthorized payroll, a misappropriation of public funds, the audit findings state.
And from January of 2017 through May of 2019, Turpin received a total of $3,120 in unauthorized payroll, a misappropriation of public funds.
The findings detail the various alleged misappropriations in funds.
Byrd emphasized that Jered Prickett and other town employees could face criminal charges. She said the full audit report will be turned over to District Attorney Allan Grubb to decide whether to pursue charges.
She also stated in conclusion that, “The Board ultimately bears the responsibility for the financial welfare of the town.”