State Auditor Demands Nearly $400K From Former Coroner

PRESS RELEASE

JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today that Special Agents served a demand to former Union County coroner, Mark Golding, in the amount of $398,418.83.

The Auditor’s Office began an investigation on Golding on May 28 and determined that Golding submitted false claims, totaling $276,591.56 to the Union County Board of Supervisors requesting fees for deaths which he did not investigate.

In addition to submitting false claims, this information was reported to the Mississippi Public Employment Retirement System (PERS) thereby inflating his future benefits. Golding resigned as Coroner on June 6, 2013, and on August 29, an order was issued in Union County Circuit Court freezing Golding’s retirement account.

“The civil demand issued by my office today represents the initial step to recover funds that were misappropriated,” said State Auditor Pickering. “During the 90 day freeze, we intend to work with PERS to reduce these inappropriate wages and return to Union County the employer funds paid into PERS by the taxpayers.”

“PERS is always pleased to work with the State Auditor’s Office to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the System and to insure the interests of the taxpayers of Mississippi are served,” said Pat Robertson, Director of PERS.