MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed)- A former employee of the Meridian Public School District (MPSD) has been arrested for allegedly embezzling funds collected for drug screenings and new employee background checks, State Auditor Shad White announced Monday.
Candace Morris was taken into custody by Special Agents from the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. According to investigators, Morris was responsible for collecting payments — primarily in cash — from individuals undergoing required screenings as part of the hiring process. She allegedly provided receipts but later converted the funds for personal use.
“We will continue to hold the line when it comes to improper spending of taxpayer dollars,” White said. “The dedicated team at the State Auditor’s Office will continue to work closely with prosecutors to get record results for taxpayers.”
If convicted, Morris faces up to $5,000 in fines and a maximum of 20 years in prison. All individuals arrested by the Auditor’s Office are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Meridian Public School District confirmed it had been made aware of the charges.
“The alleged actions are deeply troubling and do not reflect the values or ethical standards upheld by our district,” the district said in a statement.
MPSD Superintendent Dr. Amy Carter said the district took action as soon as irregularities were discovered.
“During the 2022–2023 school year district personnel discovered discrepancies during internal auditing procedures and immediately notified the State Auditor’s Office,” Carter said. “We take the stewardship of public funds seriously. We took immediate action to strengthen our internal controls and oversight procedures to prevent any future misconduct.”
Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, district officials said they are unable to comment further but reaffirmed their commitment to transparency and accountability in district operations.
The Office of the State Auditor encourages anyone with information about suspected fraud or misuse of public funds to report it through the agency’s website or by calling 1-800-321-1275 during business hours.
