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Court authorizes up to $25,000 for criminal forensic accounting in ongoing Chamber investigation
Summary
At the sheriff's request and after executive-session review, commissioners approved hiring a criminal forensic accountant for the sheriff's office and the district attorney—s office, not to exceed $25,000, to support an investigation involving the Anowak Chamber of Commerce.
Chambers County commissioners approved spending up to $25,000 to hire a criminal forensic accountant to support an active investigation involving the Anowak Chamber of Commerce and a locally organized fundraising event, the sheriff said at the meeting.
The sheriff told the court that prosecutors had requested forensic accounting help to analyze financial records tied to Gatorfest-related activity and estimated the transaction volume in the relevant accounts could range from roughly $250,000 to $500,000. County legal staff and the district attorney asked that further details and selection of a vendor be discussed in executive session; the court agreed and, after returning to open session, approved the expenditure not to exceed $25,000 to retain a forensic accountant.
The sheriff and county staff said prior experiences with government forensic resources had been slow and that a private-sector firm was expected to move the work faster. Commissioners authorized the hire to assist prosecution and investigative efforts; the court did not discuss vendor names in open session.
