By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
CHESTERFIELD — State police and an unidentified federal law enforcement agency are investigating the theft of town dollars in Chesterfield, and town employees are the subject of the investigation.
Detective Keith O’Donnell of the Indiana State Police confirmed the investigation Monday but would not disclose the name of the federal agency assisting in the state’s investigation.
Wendy Osborne, spokeswoman for the FBI, would not confirm nor deny whether the agency was involved in the Chesterfield investigation.
According to O’Donnell, the possible theft was discovered when state auditors found discrepancies in the city’s financial statements.
“We were contacted by the State Board of Accounts to take a look at some potentially inappropriate expenditures,” he said.
O’Donnell said no arrests have been made in the investigation. “We’re pretty early in on this,” he said. He would not disclose the dollar amount allegedly stolen from the city fund.
State police are not releasing information regarding specific individuals being investigated, O’Donnell said, but he acknowledged that police are investigating town employees.
“There’s multiple people we’re looking at,” O’Donnell said.
A source close to the investigation said the Chesterfield Police Department is the focus of the investigation, and indicated a former city employee may have taken part in the alleged theft. The source, who asked not be identified in this news article, also said the investigation began just a few months ago and relates to the theft that occurred in 2008.
Chesterfield Police Chief Jaime Kimm said Monday he was unaware of an investigation. “I have not been contacted by anybody, no one,” he said.
Chesterfield Town Council member Karen Wilson said she had no knowledge of the police investigation.
“I’ve been told by the auditors they’re just going through things,” Wilson said.
Clerk-treasurer Candy Bennett also said she was unaware of the police investigation, but said she knew the town was the subject of an ongoing audit.
The State Board of Accounts is currently conducting an audit of the city’s financial records to determine where the money went.
Wilson believes the audit will be complete in June.
Wilson declined to disclose how much money is missing from the town. “I’ve been told not to say anything until everything comes out. Nobody really knows what’s going on,” she said.
Wilson said no town employees have been disciplined or fired in relation to the investigation. She was unwilling to disclose the names of individuals being investigated.
“I’ve been told not to say,” Wilson said.
Councilmen Jack Taylor and Ron Branham refused to comment on the investigation.
Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
