Former Sunset mayor arrested

Former Sunset mayor arrested

Massey facing fraud, embezzlement charges

news@theeveningtimes.com

Former Sunset Mayor Kirby Massey is facing multiple charges for allegedly stealing over $50,000 from the city while in office.

Massey was arrested Tuesday and charged with three counts of theft of city funds totaling $52,850. The thefts allegedly occurred from January 2013 through December 2014 from the city where he was mayor.

Massey turned himself in and was booked and freed on a $5,000 bond.

The investigation was launched in January when current Mayor Eddie Craig contacted authorities after noticing several withdrawals had been made from city accounts in excess of $4,000 which were made payable to Massey’s family members.

Arkansas Legislative Audit was called in to audit the city’s finances to determine whether the withdrawals were legitimate or approved by the city and revealed several discrepancies with no supporting documentation. Auditors found that in 2013 and 2014 a total of $7,200 in rental income from a property owned by the city was unaccounted for. The report also revealed that Massey made a $12,000 cash withdrawal on January 6, 2014 from SunTrust Bank with no supporting documentation for what it was used for, and that he was reimbursed for $1,175 also with no documentation to show what it was for.

Auditors also found that in 2013 and 2014 the city overpaid Massey a total of $2,750, and that Chief Shane Wiegand reported one of the city vehicles was sold for $500 which also went unaccounted for.

The report also revealed that Massey’s wife was paid $29,225 in 2013 and 2014 for bookkeeping and housekeeping services without any supporting documentation or authorizing ordinance.

According to the arrest affidavit, Massey admitted to State Police investigators that he received $75 to $100 a month in cash payments from Ozie Williams, who was living in the city owned property. Williams told investigators that he was paying $250 a month in cash to Massey.

Massey stated that he would use the money to put gas in city vehicles, but according to Sunset Treasurer Margaret Stringfellow, the city never received any rent money from the property.

Massey also admitted to investigators that he overpaid himself $2,750 without approval of the city council, and that he needed the money “to help pay for his daughter’s funeral.”

Massey told investigators that he reimbursed himself $1,175 for a trip to Little Rock, but admitted that he does not have any supporting documentation to provide.

Stringfellow stated that she did not know anything about a travel reimbursement request and told investigators that “she has never seen a request or signed anything approving him for reimbursement in the 12 years she has been elected treasurer for the city.”

The case was investigated by Arkansas State Police investigator Andre Mack and assisted by Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office.

Massey is scheduled to appear in District Court on Nov. 28 in West Memphis.

By Mark Randall