PIERRE, S.D. — A group of South Dakota lawmakers will investigate problems in two state government departments after reports of financial wrongdoing by former employees.
The Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee will meet on October 21 to look into the Department of Revenue, where two former employees allegedly created fake vehicle ownership titles to secure bank loans.
We’ll be able to get into what happened, said Republican Rep. Ernie Otten, the committee chair, during a meeting on Thursday. The committee is also considering hiring an outside group to conduct deeper financial audits across state government.
On December 11-12, the committee will investigate theft allegations in the Department of Social Services’ child protection division. A former employee, Lonna Carroll, 68, is accused of stealing nearly $1.8 million over 13 years. Her trial is set to begin on December 4, where she has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges.
The trial should clarify a lot for us, Otten said.