Arrests Brooksville Mayor and City Clerk

ACKSON, Miss. – Today State Auditor Shad White announced that Special Agents from his office have arrested Brooksville Mayor Earlie Henley and former Brooksville City Clerk Shaquita Malone for allegedly embezzling funds from the City of Brooksville.

Henley allegedly drafted checks made out to himself without the signature authority of a second signer. Henley also allegedly took cash withdrawal slips to the bank to withdraw and pocketed cash from the city’s accounts.

Malone allegedly entered herself into the payroll system as an hourly employee rather than a salaried employee as hired and then increased her hourly rate to receive funds she was not entitled or authorized to receive. Agents also discovered Malone is a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to be employed as a City Clerk.

“We will continue to hold public officials who break the public’s trust accountable at every level,” said Auditor White. “Thank you to the prosecutors who took our investigation and to the men and women of the Auditor’s Office for their tireless work.”

If convicted, both Henley and Malone face up to $5,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison. All persons arrested by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office at any time by clicking the red button on the Auditor's website or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.