06/11/2018
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (June 11, 2018) State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released the following statement on the guilty plea by the former clerk of the city of Viburnum:
"Officials that violate the public's trust and use their position to enrich themselves must be held accountable. I'm grateful to law enforcement and Iron County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Parker for working with me to seek justice for taxpayers in Viburnum. Next year, I'm calling on the legislature to finally pass legislation to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to more swiftly combat fraud and public corruption."
Auditor Galloway released the results of the city of Viburnum audit report last year. The audit identified more than $100,000 in fraudulent activities over a number of years. Former city clerk Dana Mayberry pled guilty to receiving stolen property, a Class B Felony.
For the past two years, Auditor Galloway supported legislation sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon to create greater penalties in public corruption cases and allow increased partnerships between the State Auditor and prosecutors and law enforcement. In 2017, the provision to allow for increased partnerships to fight public corruption was approved by both chambers as part of a larger bill, but was vetoed by the Governor. In 2018, a version of the measure was approved in both the House and Senate, but ultimately was blocked by the lobbying efforts of county officials and died in the House in the final days of session.
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