FENTRESS COUNTY, TN — An investigation conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed the theft of thousands of dollars from the Fentress County Finance Department.
According to the press release from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office, Kellye Crabtree, an Accounts Payable Clerk at the Fentress County Finance Department stole at least $239,680.99 in a four year span.
Allegedly, Crabtree used the Walmart Credit Card that had been issued to the department to buy items such as: food, cigarettes, personal hygiene items, clothing, electronics, entertainment items, home items, phone cards, and prepaid Visa cards and gift cards. These items were said to not be purchased for item business.
Crabtree was said to have received all credit card statements, issued payments, and manipulated the county’s accounting records and budget to keep the theft from being discovered.
The press release also stated that while Crabtree was serving as treasurer for a community baseball league, she wrote checks to herself from that account. The league was receiving money from the county.
The investigation was put into motion after officials in the finance department noticed several purchases on the Walmart Credit Card that they deemed questionable.
“This theft can be directly attributed to giving one person too much control over county funds,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “Financial duties must be separated between multiple people. One person shouldn’t be able to issue purchase orders, make purchases, receive credit card statements, pay the bills, and maintain the accounting records without sufficient oversight.”
Crabtree’s employment with the department was said to be terminated on December 18, 2018. As of September 3, Crabtree was indicted on one count of theft over $60,000 by the Fentress County Grand Jury