Lawmakers are laying out the groundwork for a legislative investigation into a major embezzlement case involving a former state employee.
Lonna Carroll is accused of stealing $1.8 million over 13 years while working for the Department of Social Services
The attorney general’s office is leading the criminal probe, focusing on Carroll’s alleged actions.
Now, the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee, or GOAC, is developing its own investigation focusing on the governmental failures that let the embezzlement continue for so long.
Rep. Ernie Otten chairs the committee. He said it’s important they don’t interfere with the criminal investigation.
"While the legal proceedings play out, GOAC, as an investigative committee, has every right to look at this case," Otten said. "However, we need to make sure our actions and statements in no way negatively impact the ability of the state to prosecute this case, or muddy the jury pool.”
GOAC only held preliminary conversation on the investigation at its Wednesday meeting. Lawmakers discussed which departments and offices to talk to – namely, DSS, the state auditor’s office, and the attorney general.
Committee member Sen. Tim Reed said they should focus on more than just who was involved.
“I think it’s important when we’re looking at this – and the word “root cause” has come up – that we take a look at it, not just for the incident, let’s try and look at it broadly, over all of the processes," Reed said. "I know that might add some time to it, but we have to understand what may need to be changed overall, not just this specific one that happened.”
The committee is planning on tackling the investigation in earnest at a future meeting, likely in October.
