An internal shakeup inside Mount Juliet’s information-technology department has turned into a full-on criminal case, with state agents arresting two former city IT employees on April 17 after a probe into alleged sales of city property. River Johnson was booked on a theft charge, while Marshall Taylor faces theft counts plus an additional tampering-with-evidence allegation. Both men were processed at the Wilson County jail and later released on bond, capping a months-long internal review of the city’s IT operation.
Charges and booking details
The Wilson County Sheriff’s Office reports that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested Johnson and Taylor on April 17 on theft of property charges, and that Taylor was also charged with tampering with or fabricating evidence, according to NewsChannel 5. The outlet notes that both former employees were taken to the Wilson County jail for booking and were subsequently released on bond. Officials have not yet made full charging documents publicly available.
How the probe began
Earlier reporting shows the investigation began after an anonymous tip claimed there was a scheme to sell old city-issued cell phones and alleged inappropriate relationships on the job, and that both men worked in Mt. Juliet’s information-technology department, according to WSMV. Personnel files reviewed by the station indicate the two employees were fired last fall following an internal review, and that the district attorney later asked the TBI to assume control of the investigation. WSMV’s coverage detailed the personnel records and timeline that led up to the April arrests.
Local officials respond
Mt. Juliet city leaders are treating the case as a serious breach of public trust. Commissioner Scott Hefner told WKRN the situation is “serious and concerning.” WKRN also reported bond amounts based on booking information from the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office: $3,500 for River Johnson and $7,500 for Marshall Taylor.
What happens next
The cases now move into Wilson County’s court system, where investigators and prosecutors will continue reviewing evidence tied to the alleged scheme. Officials have not announced a schedule for arraignments or other key hearings, and news outlets report they plan to update coverage as court records and additional documents become available.
