Auditor demands $2.3 million back from college, business owners
JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) – Today State Auditor
Shad White announced Eureda “Edie” Washington and Joe Lowder have been indicted for defrauding the state’s Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) program. Special Agents separately delivered demand letters to Washington, Lowder, and two other individuals – Jennifer and David Schock – who do not face criminal charges. The Auditor’s office also issued demand letters to Itawamba Community College (ICC) for improperly approving WET program expenditures.
“I’m thankful for investigators’ work which put a stop to this improper workforce training spending,” said White. “Now is the time for policymakers to acknowledge there are not enough fraud-prevention safeguards in place in our workforce training program. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on this every year. We need to be sure the money is being used appropriately.”
Washington is accused of submitting fraudulent documents to ICC and obtaining over $680,000 in WET funding for a furniture manufacturing company owned by Jennifer and David Schock. Since Washington had previous experience applying for WET program funds, she purportedly controlled the application paperwork submitted by the company and was paid a percentage of the WET funds it was awarded. The applications she submitted showed discrepancies like people being listed as a student in one class at the same time they were listed as an instructor in a different class. Payable by all three, an $864,918.72 demand was issued to Washington and the Schocks.
Lowder allegedly manufactured fraudulent documents meant to obscure a double-billing scheme. By intentionally billing both private companies and the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) for WET program expenditures, the department’s revenue increased while taxpayers lost around $10,000. Lowder was issued a $12,818.28 demand letter.
Additionally, ICC paid a large amount of WET funds to a private company without ensuring program requirements had been met. The college owes over $1.4 million to taxpayers for their failure to follow WET program guidelines.
No surety bond covers Washington, the Schocks, or Lowder. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers in the event that public money is misspent. Washington and Lowder will remain liable for the full amounts of their demands in addition to individual criminal charges.
If you know of other fraud—including fake timesheets for workforce training programs or false billing for these programs—please report this to the Auditor’s office by clicking the red “Report Fraud” button at the Auditor’s website or via telephone during normal business hours at 1-(800)-321-1275.
ICC Statement:
For over two years, Itawamba Community College has fully cooperated with and has been incredibly responsive to the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office in its investigation. In addition, the College hired a former United States Attorney and a well-respected, regional law firm to conduct an internal investigation into allegations made by the State Auditor. Based upon that internal investigation, the College strongly denies any and all allegations of illegal or improper activity by the institution or its current or former employees. Throughout all of this, ICC has continued to provide unparalleled workforce training pursuant to state law for both our communities and our state. And, ICC will continue to provide such training to our citizens, to assist employers throughout the state, and to be a driver of economic development for all of north Mississippi. Itawamba Community College has long been and remains a leader in workforce development training and looks forward to its day in court in order for the truth to be told, these unfounded allegations be rejected by a jury of its peers, and be exonerated of all charges.
