Former Hattiesburg School Employee Pleads Guilty

DATE: October 21, 2010

Former Hattiesburg Public School Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement and Forgery

(Jackson, Miss.) – State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced that Kay Magee recently pled guilty to charges of forgery and embezzlement of public funds during a two-year period. Magee served as secretary for Hattiesburg High School. While she was employed with the Hattiesburg School District, Magee embezzled over $22,000.00.

Magee was ordered restitution in the amount of $3,341.84 to the Hattiesburg Public School District, $6,767.30 to the Office of the State Auditor and a repayment of $21,085.39 to her bonding company who compensated the Hattiesburg Public School District for its loss. Magee was sentenced to 20 years with 18 months house arrest.

“I commend the staff of the Hattiesburg Public School District and District Attorney Jon Mark Weathers for their efforts in uncovering this scheme,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “The Auditor’s Office encourages other school districts to take proactive efforts to prevent this type of embezzlement situation from happening in the future.”

Elected as Mississippi’s State Auditor in 2007, Stacey Pickering has recovered more than $3.9 million in embezzled, misspent or misappropriated funds. He is a seventh generation Mississippian from Jones County. Auditor Pickering currently serves on the Domestic Working Group for the Office of the Comptroller General of the United States. He also serves on the Financial Management and Intergovernmental Affairs and Performance Audit Committees for the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers and is a member of the National State Auditors Association. Prior to serving as State Auditor, Pickering served as a State Senator from 2004-2007 representing Jones County and is credited for co-authorizing legislation allowing Mississippi to end lawsuit abuse. Throughout his political career, Pickering has made tremendous strides in creating more accountability and transparency in government and continues to promote fiscal responsibility and the need for more efficiency and productivity in government. For more information on Stacey Pickering, visit www.osa.state.ms.us/auditors-bio.htm.

###