Jefferson County Faces Another Investigation

For the second time in less than twelve months, a Jefferson County Government Department is being investigated for financial irregularities that point to employees theft. According to reliable sources, bookkeeping discrepancies have been identified in the office of Building Inspection, which point to employee theft. Late last year the Jefferson County Finance Office was in the spotlight as the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office led an investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of a County employee for theft that neared the $150,000 mark. Reliable sources put the current missing funds at much less, coming in under the $20,000 mark.

The discrepancy was identified and investigated in house before being turned over to the State for appropriate action. Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri confirmed Friday, August 21, 2015, that there is an ongoing investigation that has been turned over to the State. However, on the advice of the County Attorney, the Mayor declined to comment on any particulars of the investigation.

Mayor Palmieri stated:

“There is an ongoing investigation into an individual County Department. I am not at liberty to discuss the issue, on advice of the County Attorney, other than to confirm the investigation, which has been turned over to the State. It is always disturbing to me as the Mayor of Jefferson County , as a resident and tax payer in this fine County, when issues like this arise. And it is unfortunate that Jefferson County is not alone in having incidents like the one last year and this most recent investigation. It seems like every week that the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office is announcing a new investigation somewhere in the State, be it Knox County or Morristown or any number of other counties across the State, none of us are immune and for every incident there is a different set of circumstances. There is never any excuse for mishandling or theft of the people’s money and this seems to be a widespread, growing problem. In Jefferson County, we have employed checks and balances to help stop theft and to identify quickly those individuals that would steal from the tax payers and will continue to be pro active with in house reviews to identify irregularities.”

By policy, the State of Tennessee will neither confirm or deny an ongoing investigation.