Former Mississippi State employee pleads guilty to embezzlement
A former Mississippi State University employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $35,000 from the state.
Stacie Stroud, a former employee of MSU’s research facility at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, received four years of supervised probation.
Stroud, 33, who was employed with Mississippi State from September 2007 to February 2009, had used her state-issued procurement credit card for personal expenses including her neighborhood homeowner’s dues, a birthday party and a payment on her student account at MSU, as well as purchases through Amazon.com, Office Depot and the campus bookstore.
“Although procurement cards make it more convenient for government employees to make necessary and authorized purchases, the convenience does not allow for less oversight and pre-authorization,” State Auditor Stacey Pickering said in a statement. “With the heightened awareness on the abuse of procurement cards, agencies, local governments and elected officials must have the necessary checks and balances in place to ensure that taxpayer funds are not misspent.”
Stroud repaid $42,691.95 to the court to cover the money taken from the state, plus investigative expenses.
Clarion Ledger
12/15/10
Magnolia Tribune
