Lake City employee accused of embezzling over $3,000 in public funds

LAKE CITY, S.C. (WMBF) – State agents arrested a Lake City employee who is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the city.

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arrested 43-year-old Jackie Hanna on Monday and charged her with embezzlement of public funds.

Hanna worked as a clerk for the Lake City Water and Sewer Office where she was responsible for the safekeeping, transfer and disbursement of public funds, according to arrest warrants.

Documents state that from March 2022 through June 2022 she embezzled over $3,000 of those public funds by deleting customer’s cash transactions and keeping the cash.

Lake City spokesperson Donna Tracy said Hanna was employed as a part-time water billing clerk from November 2021 through July 2022. After she was dismissed the city initiated an internal audit of all accounts.

“This is something we take very seriously, and these measures will prevent incidents from happening again,” said city administrator William A. Hall. “We audited every transaction during Hanna’s tenure, and impacted accounts were made full.”

Tracy said the city has since established policies and procedures for improved oversight.

Hanna has since been released from jail on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

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