How did someone manage to steal more than $1.5 million in welfare funds in Inyo County, undetected for eight years? The District Attorney alleges Inyo’s Social Services Supervisor Dawndee Rossy conspired with her husband Ken to commit that crime. Director of Health and Human Services, Jean Turner, maintains that there were many safeguards in place.
Turner said, “There are eight different levels of safeguards.” Asked to describe them, Turner said she has to stay away from specifics right now as the prosecution of the Rossys goes forward. Turner did repeat that there were eight levels of safeguards in place involving various organizations including the County and the State. She said, “I hope I can give more detail in the future.”
Turner did say that the embezzled money did not come from the County General Fund. Auditor-Controller Leslie Chapman also said the embezzled funds did not go through the County Treasury. Chapman said she could not comment further pending prosecution of the case.
In a County press release Chapman had said that the County has “maintained good controls.” But she added that “It is very difficult to stop a management person in a position of trust and authority from circumventing the system.” Turner said as you go up the chain of management, “there is more trust in supervisory positions.”
Director Turner said that it is unfortunate this incident has placed a “black cloud over good employees.” She said her staff are dedicated public servants, and they are “particularly dismayed.” Asked if Inyo County has to pay back any of the $1.5 million, Turner said she does not know and that there are still many unanswered questions.
Inyo County Administrator Kevin Carunchio confirmed that there were “multiple safeguards and checks and balances in place under eight broad categories.” He said somebody had to get around them. Pressed for more details on how the crime occurred, Carunchio said, “I understand that everyone, including myself, has a lot of questions. Answers will come out through the criminal case, and I do not want to do anything to jeopardize that case.”
Great response!
Management needs to be addressed and I also demand as a tax payer that our Board of Supervisors step up, open their eyes and look at why the people in authority didn’t find this. Did they know and looked the other way.
Given the director’s quote below (from the article above)… I am doubly disappointed… first that a public employee / manager would undermine the public’s trust, and second that somehow others higher in the chain would attempt to absolve themselves of their responsibility in the matter through the quote below…. “It… Read more »
I don’t think I’d be commenting on eight levels of checks and balances, so the ball was dropped eight times? Or was it just ignored and overlooked. There is a real accountability issue for managers in the County, when I was there years ago I saw the Auditor have to… Read more »
Looks like they need a ninth level…
Sadly predictable. To quote yesterday’s comment from the earlier article: “Will be entertaining to watch the DHSS administration in the pointless and sad excersize of attempting to cover their behinds. To those looking for accountability or “The buck stops here” acceptance of responsibility; don’t hold your breath.” Perhaps the DHSS… Read more »
Perhaps they were savvy sophisticated career criminal minds 😉
but I doubt it. Just a simple case of nobody checking her work.
What good are safeguards if they do not work?
Wow let’s start with DHSS employee’s, sounds like they are the only one’s doing their job. Lets applaude those who care about the people they serve and are honest. Safeguards? Who was checking Mrs. Rossy’s work? Why didn’t her superiors find this? Why is it left to workers to police… Read more »