Former Stone County road department employee pleads guilty

JACKSON, Miss. (VDN) — A former Stone County Road Department employee, Tyler Loper. has pleaded guilty to embezzlement after stealing and selling scrap metal from county property for personal gain, State Auditor Shad White announced Thursday.

Loper took various types of scrap metal which belonged to Stone County from the Stone County Rubbish Site and sold it for personal gain. The Office of the State Auditor worked hand in hand with the Stone County Sheriff’s Office on this investigation.

“I’m thankful to the Stone County Sheriff’s Office for their help with this case and to the prosecutor who helped bring this case to a close,” said State Auditor Shad White. “We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to make sure your tax dollars are spent properly.”

“The Stone County Sheriff’s Office was happy to work alongside the State Auditor’s Office to ensure the theft of county property and funds would not occur in the future by Loper,” said the Stone County Sheriff’s Office.

Loper was prosecuted in Stone County Circuit Court where he was sentenced five years reporting non-adjudicated probation supervised by the MS Department of Corrections. He was ordered to pay $2,754.80 in restitution, $1,500 in fines, and $300 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.