NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A now former-GBI employee is at the center of a criminal investigation involving purchase cards.
Only Channel 2 Action News was at her home Thursday as agents removed what auditors suspect are illegally purchased items.
“I am absolutely mortified, as are other men and women of the GBI,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said.
According to Keenan, Sandra Putnam was one of the ten or so highest ranking agents in the GBI’s entire investigative division.
“She was a supervisor and held in very high esteem,” Keenan said.
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Keenan said the investigation focuses on a scheme to use state purchasing cards to buy goods on Amazon.com for personal use. %
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GBI Special Agent In Charge J.T. Rickettson said every item taken from Putnam’s Newton County home was evidence. Items included patio furniture, a leather sofa, a pressure washer, scuba gear and much more.
“The activities that we have under investigation are in excess of $26,000,” Keenan said.
Keenan said the commissioner of the state department of administrative services and state inspector general came to him with detailed records after a routine audit raised suspicions.
“They went over those records with me and I was convinced there was criminal activity,” Keenan said.
Within 24 hours, the GBI began executing a search warrant.
Putnam has since resigned. %
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Cox Media Group
