Mississippi State Auditor Shad White confirmed that Shannon Wilburn, the former Benton County Tax Collector, pleaded guilty to embezzlement. Wilburn admitted to taking over $300,000 from daily collections intended for the county, according to Mississippi Office of the State Auditor's Facebook page.
Wilburn's guilty plea is part of an ongoing effort by the State Auditor’s office to combat fraud. "The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s office has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and we will continue to work with prosecutors to get record results," said State Auditor Shad White, as quoted by Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Wilburn’s sentence includes a year of house arrest and five years of supervision after release, with nine years suspended.
In addition to the house arrest, Wilburn was ordered to pay $158,096 in restitution. This payment is part of the consequences for the funds she embezzled, though it does not cover the full amount taken.
The State Auditor’s office encourages residents to report any suspected fraud by public officials. An easy reporting method is available through a red button on their website or a hotline during working hours, allowing taxpayers to help ensure government integrity.
