DEMOREST, Ga. — Demorest Mayor Rick Austin told Channel 2 Action News on Wednesday that the city is now asking the FBI to look into who funneled $600,000 out of the city.
In audit ledgers dating back to 2009, years before Austin's term, he told Channel 2’s Liz Artz it shows the city was warned of poor bookkeeping practices.
“Those warnings went unheeded and I think purposefully. At the end of the day, $600,000 walked out the door," Austin said. %
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The mayor told Artz he spent his first two years in office putting in measures to prevent any further theft.
“We have taken every step necessary -- new procedures, daily reconciles, bank deposits. We know when employees come and when they leave," Austin said.
He said the city has also spent $100,000 in efforts to track down the thieves who he believes were stealing cash payments from residents intended for their water bills.
Austin took his findings to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which then turned it over to the district attorney.
“You had a pretty good idea of people who had access after hours. Wouldn't you take a look at those bank records and start there?" Austin said.
Austin hopes that's where the FBI will start its investigation.
He told Artz the process shouldn't be this frustrating with the mounds of evidence he says he's handed over to investigators.
“It has been disturbingly frustrating. It has pushed my emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other. It’s almost disgusting," Austin said.
Channel 2 Action News also contacted the GBI. A spokesperson stated it had completed its investigation and turned its findings over to the district attorney.