JACKSON – State Auditor Stacey Pickering said if an Alcorn County supervisor doesn’t repay the nearly $160,000 he owes the county, he will be sued by the state. Pickering issued a demand letter to District 2 Supervisor Danny Crotts who allegedly misused the county funds for personal gain.
Pickering said Crotts, 59, who was elected in 1992, misused the funds from 2002 to 2007, and among other violations of state law, owned a blues bar, but billed the county for its expenses.
“Crotts used a personally owned barn named Crossroad Blues with a bar and dance floor while billing the county over $15,000 for a ‘District 2 Shop,'” Pickering said. “Utilities were paid by the county along with numerous purchases that were unauthorized or in violation of State law. “After reviewing this case, it is clear that public funds were misused by Alcorn County Supervisor Danny Crotts repeatedly from 2002 – 2007.”
Special agents with the State Auditor’s Office also determined during heir investigation of Crotts that road work was performed on private property; county property was used for personal use; automotive parts were purchased for vehicles not on county inventory; and a tractor was rented for $950 a month for 63 months using funds restricted by law for road and bridge use, but the tractor was never used for work in District 2.
Pickering said Crotts also disposed of government-owned items in a landfill instead of transferring them to the supervisor-elect for District 2 when leaving office.
Crotts, who lives in Glen, has 30 days to respond to Pickering’s demand letter.
“This civil demand represents a significant loss to Alcorn County, and my office will work diligently with the bonding company to ensure that Alcorn County is made whole,” Pickering said. “We will also continue to work with prosecutorial agencies on any criminal charges that may be forth coming.”
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