(MS STATE AUDITOR’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE) – Today State AuditorShad White announced former Jones County Supervisor Jerome Wyatt has beenconvicted of embezzlement in Judge Dal Williamson’s chamber of Jones CountyCircuit Court. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Anthony J. Buckley.
Wyatt was arrested by Special Agents from the State Auditor’s office in October 2018 after being indicted. He used “The Gentlemen’s Club” – a Laurel Middle School mentoring program he founded – to embezzle nearly $2,000 from children in Jones County schools by submitting fraudulent reimbursement requests. Wyatt also embezzled public money by taking cash when he directed a county-owned vehicle to a metal scrap yard outside Jones County.
“This plea should send a message to elected officials and othersaround the state that no one has the right to steal taxpayer money,” saidAuditor White. “I want to thank investigators in the Auditor’s office for theirwork in proving this case and making the arrest, and I want to thank theprosecutors in District Attorney Buckley’s office and DA Buckley for their workin obtaining this felony plea.”
Judge Williamson sentenced Wyatt to spend at least 5 years underthe supervision of the department of corrections and complete 200 hours ofcommunity service. The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor has alreadyrecovered the full amount of the demand issued to Wyatt when he was arrestedand returned it to Jones County taxpayers.
Wyatt was not reelected as a County Supervisor in Fall 2019, buthe will not be eligible to hold any future public office after this felonyconviction.
Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online anytime by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.govor via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275.
