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Investigation Concludes: $1.43 Million Stolen From Sheriff’s Office
March 23, 2010
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department has concluded their investigation into a former department accountant, and they now say she stole over $1.43 million.
Cathy Lister was first charged in February with stealing $100,000 from the sheriff’s office, but further investigation determined that well over $1 million more was missing. The money was taken over a 10 year period from monies seized as part of investigations and placed the department’s Evidence Trust Fund.
“Investigators and the State Attorney’s Office are still obtaining and reviewing Lister’s bank records for evidence that will show how she disposed of the funds. It is expected that Lister’s charges will be amended by the State Attorney’s Office at some point in the near future,” Sgt. Ted Roy, ECSO spokesperson, said Tuesday.
Lister was 32-year employee of the department who retired from the finance division just days before her arrest.
“Recently implemented accounting practices along with discrepancies noticed by employees led to an investigation being launched,” Roy said in February. Lister was reportedly keeping two sets of financial records for the office.
Lister was released from the Escambia County Jail on $25,000 bond. Her trial is scheduled to begin in June. She has pleaded not guilty to the current charges against her.
Comments
10 Responses to “Investigation Concludes: $1.43 Million Stolen From Sheriff’s Office”
Sounds more to me like she is the one going to hang for it, she will go to a cushy federal prison for 7 to 10 years, and be set for retirement when she gets out, she will never have to work another day in her life.
I think there is something “fishy” about this story. Having access to that much money…even over 10 years…and there is apparently nothing to show for it. Hope they check to see if there was someone else involved….or possibly responsible.
Well, if anyone else was involved I hope further investigation brings it to light. There definitely needs to be an investigation into who was doing the Sheriff’s Office’s audits all these years (assuming they had regular audits.) Was anyone else overseeing this employee or was one employee entrusted with all the records/funds? (not wise)
Looks like they have some safeguards now (“recently implemented accounting practices”.) I wonder if any of the money is recoverable?
I don’t think she took 1.43 million, someone else filled some pockets as well.
I bet she dide not work alone. Some other inside help. Some of the biggest crooks work there. They are blaming all that is missing on her and my bet is she didn’t do it all. They need to look deeper.
Just my thoughts!!!
Well Z, you post 10% of your actual bond with a bondsman guarantee on the rest. Since it was seized drug money, I wouldn’t exactly say “its the taxpayers money.”
Ok, now how do we recover all of this money, so that it can be used for the purposes that it was intented for?
Doesn’t look like she spent any of the 1.43 mil on makeovers, so she should have plenty for the $2,500 bail bond fee….
It is my understanding that people released on bond only post 10% of the bond, which in her case would be $2,500.
huh wonder where she got the 25,000 for bond.oh yeah tax payers.